Discover how AI could become humanity’s ambassador to extraterrestrial civilizations. Explore the groundbreaking ideas from SETI and NASA scientists on using advanced chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT to communicate with alien life.
Could AI Be Our Ambassador to the Cosmos? The Future of Interstellar Communication
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing industries worldwide, and its influence extends far beyond our planet. From AI in satellites to IBM's Watson on the International Space Station, the technology is making its mark in space exploration. Now, scientists are considering a groundbreaking idea: sending AI to communicate with extraterrestrial life.
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Franck Marchis, director of citizen science at the SETI Institute, and Ignacio Lopez-Francos, NASA principal research engineer, recently discussed the potential of AI in an op-ed for Scientific American. They highlighted the risks and rewards of using AI to communicate with intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations.
Unlike creating a sentient android, the idea is more about placing an interactive historical record on a disk. This concept harks back to 1977 when the United States launched the Voyager 1 spacecraft. Voyager 1 carried a 12-inch, gold-plated copper disc containing data like pictures, music, sounds, and texts describing Earth’s diversity. US President Jimmy Carter’s message on the disc conveyed a hopeful message to any aliens who might find it.
In 1998, Voyager 1 surpassed Pioneer 10 as the farthest human-made object from Earth, traveling approximately 15 billion miles by 2023. Despite this remarkable journey, no alien civilization has responded.
Updating the Message for Modern Times
Given technological advancements, Marchis and Lopez-Francos believe it’s time to update the message. They propose using a large language model (LLM) like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This AI could allow extraterrestrial civilizations to ask questions and explore the depths of our recorded knowledge without the delays of interstellar communication.
According to the scientists, this method would enable a form of indirect conversation with extraterrestrials. However, this approach comes with risks, including the possibility of hostile aliens using the information against us. Additionally, a practical challenge is sending a usable AI system that operates without the internet.
The Voyager Route vs. Direct Transmission
One option is to follow the Voyager 1 route, sending the technology on a drive into space. However, considering it took Voyager 1 nearly 50 years to travel 15 billion miles, reaching our nearest galactic neighbor, Alpha Centauri, would take until around the year 3084.
An alternative is to send a signal with the data needed to transmit an LLM to any capable extraterrestrial system. However, current interstellar communication technology only supports transmission rates of about 100 bits per second. This means sending a model like Meta’s Llama-3-70B would take centuries. Using data-shrinking techniques could reduce this time to around 20 years.
Choosing the Right AI Model
Beyond the technical challenges, an essential question remains: which AI model best represents humanity? Selecting the right model to send into space involves considering various factors, including the model’s ability to convey human knowledge, culture, and values accurately.
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Looking Ahead
While sending AI to communicate with extraterrestrial life remains hypothetical, it opens up exciting possibilities for the future of space exploration. As AI technology advances, the potential to bridge the vast distances of space and engage with other civilizations becomes increasingly feasible.
The collaboration between SETI and NASA highlights the importance of innovative thinking in expanding our understanding of the universe. As we continue to explore these possibilities, the role of AI in space communication will undoubtedly become a pivotal area of research and development.
The idea of using AI as an ambassador to the cosmos is a testament to human ingenuity and our relentless pursuit of knowledge. As we stand on the brink of this new frontier, the decisions we make today will shape the future of interstellar communication and our place in the universe.
Stay tuned to OMGfin for more updates on the latest advancements in AI, space exploration, and blockchain technology. Together, we can explore the infinite possibilities of the cosmos.
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By reimagining our communication methods with extraterrestrial life through AI, we are not only pushing the boundaries of technology but also redefining humanity’s role in the cosmos. At OMGfin, we are excited to be part of this journey, bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and the limitless expanse of space.
(TRISTAN GREENE, COINTELEGRAPH, 2024)