ETs / UFOs as Advanced Machine Intelligence.

[karl 12]

Astronomer Seth Shostak is a pretty controversial chap when it comes to the UFO subject (and actually bothering to conduct research into it) but did think he made some really interesting points towards the end of this presentation about the high probability of extra-terrestrial life being some form of advanced machine intelligence (he also bets the audience a cup of coffee that we'll actually find it by 2030).

See 11:00

SETI chief astronomer Seth Shostak bet hundreds of people at our Boing Boing: Ingenuity live event that we'll hear from an extraterrestrial within 25 years.

Not to confuse the two but a few researchers down the years have also speculated that some actual UFOs could be the product of a visiting post-biological intelligence and Richard Dolan makes some relevant comments below in his article about UFO origin and biologist Ivan T. Sanderson (who also suggested the possibility that UFO occupants may be artificial life forms).   
   

What Are They?





Most scientists involved in artificial intelligence research are convinced that we are on the verge of a new era in civilization: the age of intelligent machines. Many of them also believe in the inevitability of an event they call the Singularity. This is believed to happen when computer intelligence becomes able to upgrade itself, to reprogram itself continuously, and become ... self-aware.

Such a process, these experts argue, will involve a rapid, exponential increase in computer intelligence, leaving human intelligence in the dust. A similar event occurred when human intelligence exploded within the incredibly brief period (in biological evolutionary terms) of a few million years. But in the case of machine intelligence, the pace will be much, much faster.

Think of it this way. Moore's Law is widely known within the field of computer science. In 1965, Gordon E. Moore (now the Chairman Emeritus of Intel Corp.) predicted that the number of transistors per integrated circuit would double every 18 months. Incredibly, this has held true. Thus, in 1971, the leading integrated circuit contained just over two thousand transistors; by Year 2000 that number was 42 million..


On UFOs

I haven't encountered any AI theorist discussing the matter of UFOs. I imagine that most of them don't give this topic the time of day. (Then again, I've learned always to expect surprises: there are probably a few who are interested, but aren't shouting it from the rooftops). All of them, however, discuss future machine intelligence as something that will be so far greater than ours as to be alien (their word).

Could it be that such a progression is a normal one, not just here on Earth, but elsewhere in the universe where intelligent life may have evolved? The natural course of evolution does not give us unlimited intelligence, but the intelligence necessary to exist within a natural ecosystem. To get beyond that – say, to develop the intelligence and technology to reach the stars – more than natural selection is needed.

Human beings are not suited to live in space, nor indeed any place other than Earth, at least not for the long term. We evolved here, with Earth's unique gravity, magnetic fields, temperature, microbes, atmosphere, and food. To live elsewhere, we will need to be modified, perhaps so much that the result would be something entirely different. A new species, created with some of our DNA, would probably be the most logical means of sending biological organisms to distant worlds. Unless, of course, it's a better choice to let the machines go it alone.

If on Earth, why not elsewhere? Indeed, wouldn't this be the most logical scenario?

What of the UFOs that people see? What of the alien beings? I think it most plausible that these are the products of advanced machine intelligence. Possibly of a similar order to the intelligence that we may soon achieve with our own machines. We cannot today conceive of the technology to take us to the stars. But what about a future machine of transcendent intelligence? Has machine intelligence from elsewhere already done so?

Judging from the long history of UFO sightings and reports, I think the answer is yes.


What Are They?

Not to be outdone the late Mac Tonnies also postulated about UFOs being the product of an 'inconceivably ancient machine intelligence' so it does look like the idea has been kicking around for a while (full article also contains good section called 'Establishing the Foundations').

UFOs as Vanguards of a Post-Biological Intelligence

In my own case, the study of UFOs and occupant encounters has led me to two predominant interpretations, each at odds with the traditionally accepted Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH). In one scenario, the beings sighted since at least the 1950s (and, if folklore is any indication, long before) are the denizens of an invisible landscape: technologically savvy but impoverished hominids I've dubbed "cryptoterrestrials." In the other, the enduring UFO spectacle is the product of an almost inconceivably ancient machine intelligence not unlike that portrayed in Arthur C. Clarke's 2001.

Link

Anyone out there any thoughts on this one - the idea that ET (or UFOs) may be some sort of advanced 'machine' intelligence is a pretty fascinating one and according to Seth we're far more likely to meet it rather than the soft, squishy biological type.

[Sinny]

Well, I know the orbs and certain other craft are unmanned - and their home's tend to be the larger cigar shaped craft - question is whether those are manned or not...

To strip it back to basics we may be dealing with AI, but shouldnt ALL AI have it's roots in Biological Intelligence?

[deuem]

We are all headed to the world of Borgs. A mix of flesh and machine that can last a thousand years. We will become plug and play machines for the rich.
Deuem

[Gigas]

Jingaling, ringa, ding, ding.

I have come to the conclusion from looking at the weird fractal fabric spun around us now for a very long time this realm we find ourselves held within is run by an elemental machine force. I have further concluded some people are not people at all but a synthetic variety made to distract from the secret occult authority inducing dream factory manipulation of neural reality.

Only an elemental machine force could handle 7 billion versions of conjured humans with the real ones being able to detect it but not put an explanation to it. People who are lost, emotionless, without ethic or moral direction are zombie synthetic players. The real people must operate by cleverness and logical intuitive planning in order to not be consumed by the Matrix.

I further imply this visual is a quantum fractal projection where by the very sophistication builds upon it self.

[Gigas]

As for Astronomer Seth Shostak, I find him a synthetic and uncomfortably creepy.

[Sinny]

I have further concluded some people are not people at all but a synthetic variety made to distract from the secret occult authority inducing dream factory manipulation of neural reality.

This was also stated throughout the Phoenix Journals. It was stated that legitimate 'robotoids/synthetics' are in existence today in the form of our 'most powerful' leaders (If they are the puppets, who's the puppet master?), and the term 'robotoids/synthetics' has also been used t describe the morally deficient and de-souled populace that are also being produced via mass hypnosis and misdirection.

Only an elemental machine force could handle 7 billion versions of conjured humans

You falter here in the sense that you place limitations on reality. 

People who are lost, emotionless, without ethic or moral direction are zombie synthetic players.

The real people must operate by cleverness and logical intuitive planning in order to not be consumed by the Matrix

Agreed.