AI may be to blame for our failure to make contact with alien civilisations

By Michael Garrett, Sir Bernard Lovell chair of Astrophysics and Director of Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester

Artificial intelligence (AI) has progressed at an astounding pace over the last few years. Some scientists are now looking towards the development of artificial superintelligence (ASI) — a form of AI that would not only surpass human intelligence but would not be bound by the learning speeds of humans.

But what if this milestone isn’t just a remarkable achievement? What if it also represents a formidable bottleneck in…

Read complete article

~	Ancient DNA from an extinct native duck reveals how far birds flew to make New Zealand home

~	Why has an Israel-Hamas ceasefire been so elusive? A timeline of key moments in the search for peace

~	Australia is set to ban live sheep exports. What will this mean for the industry?

~	Oral retinoids can harm unborn babies. But many women taking them for acne may not be using contraception

~	Poor access to healthcare and water in Tchicanou and Bondi: “There are no doctors there…”

~	Thai youth activist charged with royal defamation dies in custody

~	The jury from Moldova gave highest points to Ukraine during Eurovision 2024

~	Rwanda’s role in eastern DRC conflict: why international law is failing to end the fighting

~	Mapping malaria in Africa: climate change study predicts where mosquitoes will breed in future

~	Why is my dog so cute? The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast