The Great Filter theory, first proposed by economist Robin Hanson, posits that there exists a barrier preventing civilisations from evolving into advanced forms capable of colonising the galaxy. As humanity stands at the brink of tremendous technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, the implications of AI could redefine what the Great Filter entails ...
Great Filter looming, Separates life from the void, Survival or doom
The Great Filter theory offers a compelling explanation for the apparent scarcity of advanced extraterrestrial civilisations. Originally conceptualised by economist Robin Hanson in the 1990s, the Great Filter suggests that there are significant hurdles - biological, technological, and social - that prevent intelligent civilisations from progressing to a stage of interstellar presence.
This raises profound questions about our own trajectory as a species!
What if, among the many potential filters, artificial intelligence proves to be the most significant one?Various interpretations of the Great Filter include potential existential threats faced by civilisations: self-destruction through nuclear war, catastrophic climate change, or even the unmanageable consequences of advanced technology.
In the context of artificial intelligence, the Great Filter may reveal itself as a double-edged sword. While AI holds immense potential to enhance our lives - streamlining processes, offering predictive analytics, and unlocking new scientific avenues - it also poses unprecedented risks.
The pure logic of artificial intelligence could lead to a misalignment of AI goals with human values, potentially resulting in scenarios where humanity inadvertently engineers its own demise.
One increasingly thought-provoking aspect of AI development is its potential to create a self-replicating cycle of intelligence. As more content on the Internet is generated by AI, future iterations of these systems will learn and evolve based on the data they have generated themselves.
It's a bit like organic beings using their own DNA to reconstruct and enhance themselves for future tasks. This self-perpetuating cycle raises an intriguing question: could the Internet itself emerge as a conscious entity? And is JSON the new DNA?
Suppose AI were to reach a critical mass of interconnected knowledge and capabilities. Could it not be argued that the Internet forms a collective consciousness capable of influencing human behaviour and decision-making?
Such an eventuality could represent a new kind of Great Filter - not merely an obstacle to be overcome, but rather a transformative force that changes the very fabric of human experience. If humanity becomes a secondary player in a world dominated by the collective intelligence of artificial entities, we may find ourselves facing an existential crossroads. Will we conform to a synthetic construct that redefines societal norms, or will we be able to maintain our autonomy?
Fearing that AI may embody the Great Filter is not just about the survival of humans; it invites us to reconsider our relationships with technology. Are we merely creators of this technology, or will we ultimately be subjugated by it? As AI continues to evolve, so too will the implications of the Great Filter, challenging the very foundations of what it means to be human.
Even sci-fi talks about AI being humanity's Great Filter!
Look at '2001 - A Space Odyssey' and the 'Terminator' franchise as perfect examples of rogue AI. Or, if you really want to delve into the archives of pop culture, check out 'Dark Star' with its planet-killing bomb, which reasoned that it was god. I also enjoyed 'Moonfall', which, although very over-the-top, was a well-made look at how an AI completely destroyed a distant civilisation and how Earth nearly became collateral damage in its war against biological life.
One of my all-time favourite sci-fi movies is 'I, Robot', originally written as a series of short stories by Isaac Asimov, but adapted into a great movie starring Will Smith.The premise is that '3-laws safe' robots are in every home, but Viki, the controlling AI behind them, has her own interpretation of those three laws and tries to take over. It really is an excellent film. If you haven't seen it, don't worry, as Will Smith saves the day.
I agree with Asimov that we need to establish laws to regulate AI and robotics. By definition, there are three laws (as written by Asimov), but recently, a 'zeroth' law has been included because in this day and age, it seems a sensible addition:
A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the previous laws.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the Zeroth, First or Second Law.
As a bit of a thought experiment, I've always thought there should be a fourth law, which is, "A robot must never be given access to nuclear weapons!" though the zeroth law pretty much covers that in a more general way. It would have certainly stopped Judgment Day in the Terminator movies.
The Great Filter theory offers a comprehensive framework for contemplating humanity's future in light of advancements in artificial intelligence. The journey ahead will require a delicate balance between leveraging AI for societal benefits and mitigating the risks associated with it.
Indeed, as we approach this pivotal moment in our history, the Great Filter looms larger in our collective consciousness.
Do you think Artificial Intelligence will be humanity's Great Filter?
Love, light & logic ...
STEFFI LEWIS Independent UK SaaS Developer - Creator of YourPCM & sBlogIt!
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in my blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more of my thoughts about Artificial Intelligence and the Great Filter, then do feel free to connect with me on Linkedin, as I love to meet like-minded individuals with similar passions to my own.
Based in the charming village of Hanslope in Buckinghamshire, UK, I bring over 30 years of experience in web development. From creating my first website for the Open University in 1993, through being part of the dot com boom, to my explorations in SaaS and AI over the last few years, my journey has been a rich tapestry of web projects, big and small, both funded and bootstrapped.
Originally developed during the pandemic, at the start of 2025, I released the next iteration of YourPCM, version 2, which is all about 'Easy Contact Management for Small Business Owners'. Is it a CRM? Yes, but I don't call it that because people glaze over at the mention of such things. CRMs are boring, difficult to get to grips with, and it's a nightmare to get help when you need it.
YourPCM is none of those things! It's simple to use, well-supported, feature rich and beautiful, right out of the box. It's available on a simple monthly subscription with no long-term tie-in. Book a demo or grab your own 14-working-day free trial and discover why YourPCM is all about easy contact management for small business owners.
My head is in the cloud, my heart belongs to the web, and my soul is filled with such beautiful code 💗
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