What is the Great Filter Hypothesis? Science Responds!

Humanity's search for intelligent life beyond our own is ongoing, especially in recent years. However, some scientists believe that we are completely alone; for example, the Fermi Paradox asks why we have not yet been able to find any aliens if the universe is so old and large. If the universe is full of aliens, where are they all?

There are researchers who are betting that the answer lies in the Dark Forest, a hypothesis that suggests that aliens are like predators and the universe is a dark forest. So, the best thing you can do to avoid being attacked in the forest is to stay silent and make sure no one discovers your location.

But the most skeptical scientists do not believe that there could ever be a civilization so intelligent that it could create technologies like a flying saucer. In fact, these scientists do not even believe that humanity will be able to reach such an advanced technological level. This is because we can go through what is called the “Great Filter,” which makes our continued evolution impossible.

The Great Filter hypothesis suggests that no intelligent society will survive for many years into the future. The idea is that massive advances in technology could eventually destroy civilizations, such as humanity. This could happen in a variety of scenarios, such as climate change or the advancement of artificial intelligence.

“We assume that an existential catastrophe may be lurking as our society advances dramatically toward space exploration, The Great Filter: A phenomenon that destroys civilizations before they can meet.“We propose several possible scenarios, including human-induced and natural hazards, that could be avoided through reforms in individual, institutional and intrinsic behaviors,” a study on the subject explains.

What is the Great Filter Hypothesis?

In 1996, economist and thinker Robin Hanson published an article titled “The Great Filter—Are We Close to Overcoming It?”, in which he theorized a possible solution to the Fermi Paradox. In this case, the solution to the paradox is simpler than it seems.

Italian physicist Enrico Fermi questioned where all the aliens were, after all, if the universe was created billions of years ago, new intelligent life must have already emerged. According to Hanson, the answer is simple: They destroyed themselves before they could reach the technological level that would allow interstellar travel.

The Great Candidate suggests that no alien species has enough technology to travel across the universe.source: Getty Images

In a few words, The Great Filter can be interpreted as a filter in the universe that prevents intelligent civilizations from flourishing. Hanson suggests that at some point all intelligent societies will be destroyed for various reasons. For example, a natural cause could lead to the annihilation of humanity, but the greatest chance is self-destruction, whether through war or other human-influenced causes.

The basic idea is that a critical moment will come when society becomes unstable, and something, as yet unknown, will prevent us from continuing to perpetuate our history. The hypothesis is that this will happen before any society becomes technologically advanced enough to recognize other intelligent beings. This is supposedly why we don't see aliens there.

Types of disasters that can cause a major liquidation:

• nuclear war;
• Climate change;
• Diseases and epidemics;
• Comet effect.
• artificial intelligence.

According to the theory, the most likely outcome is that the Great Filter is caused by human influence, as hundreds of natural disasters have occurred that could have destroyed life, but did not. For example, we have experienced many mass extinctions since the creation of the planet, which is why we do not see any dinosaurs around us. There are also ice age events, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of humans on Earth.

Could AI be the great candidate?

An article published in the scientific journal Acta Astronautica examines the possibility that the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to the creation of artificial superintelligence (AIS) and the destruction of humanity.. With the advent of supplemental immunization activities, a scenario suitable for the Great Clearance may emerge.

In this case, our civilization would be destroyed before other beings could be found in the universe; In fact, the theory suggests that this happens with all intelligent societies, if they actually exist..

“The speed of AI decision-making could escalate conflicts in ways far beyond original intentions. At this stage of AI development, it is possible that widespread integration of AI into autonomous weapons systems and decision-making could lead to real-time defense decisions that could “lead to a catastrophic event such as global thermonuclear war, hastening the demise of artificial and biological technological civilizations,” the article describes.

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