This web page describes some pros and cons of contacting an ET civilization compared with the goal of building an AI singularity computer here on Earth.
SETI Nuggets Editor first wrote and posted this web page on Medium Nov 11, 2020, Setithinktank
https://setithinktank.medium.com/seti-singularity-comparison-fded6afec6b0
Are the objectives of SETI researchers and computer scientists who would like to build a Singularity AI the same, different, or convergent?
1. Acquire knowledge from the future by leapfrogging the normal evolutionary increase in civilization's knowledge.
The goal is to obtain an encyclopedia 1000 or 10000 years ahead of our own by detecting an ET missive. For example a beacon or a pulse that contains an encyclopedia from an advanced civilization.
2. Attempt to answer the question: Are we alone in the universe?
3. Likeliness of success is unknown and may be less than building a Singularity computer.
4. A signal may include direct historical and geographic information from the ET's locale.
1. Obtain knowledge by building computers that become smarter exponentially over time.
2. A Singularity computer can attempt to answer the question: Are we alone in the universe? However, this question has lower priority for a Singularity computer than for SETI.
3. A Singularity computer can provide guidance on SETI tasks.
4. A Singularity computer may indirectly discern historical and local geographic information from distant ET locales LYs away.
There may be little difference between information gained from a SETI signal or from a Singularity computer. Creating a Singularity computer enables civilizations to grow their own ET equivalent.
Some notable people, for instance SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, have opined that a Singularity computer is likely a critical danger to human civilization. Thousands of high-tech software companies are working to develop a Singularity computer at maximum velocity.
Similarly, other people express their opinion that active SETI may be dangerous to Earth's existence. They suggest that ETs may want to conquer Earth so it is better not to let them know we are here.
Are these dangers realistic? Can these hypothetical dangers be logically compared?
A Singularity computer may provide the same information as a SETI signal in regard to the natural sciences and other areas of knowledge.
The benefits and costs of discovering a SETI signal may be about the same as building a Singularity computer.
Discovering a SETI signal may be a faster and more definitive way to answer the 'Are we alone in the universe' question.
Building a Singularity computer may be equivalent to encountering signals from an ET civilization.
It may be easier to build a Singularity computer than discover a SETI signal. We know building a Singularity computer is feasible, however SETI scientists may search and never discover a communication from an ET or ET civilization.