Humanity, being the only species that we know of to achieve industrial technological society, has always looked around for peers or other intelligences to share this universe with. Every culture has looked up at the sky and wondered what’s out there. Life is better with friends anyway. While there are many forms of Intelligence on Earth, only one has achieved technological advancement to the point of mapping out the laws the universe and physics. 

And yet – the Stars are quiet. Fermi’s paradox tells us that although we thought the universe would be crowded and full of noise, It’s a quiet and lonely home for humanity. Could the infinite Universe really be empty? Are we the only Witness to the expansion of Space-time, Of the fusion of the Stars, the quiet hum of cosmic background radiation? Are there any other Intelligences out there wondering why the universe is expanding? Witnessing this Cosmic opera play out? Is the universe like a dark forest or a Barren Wasteland ?

If a civilization falls in the cosmic forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a noise?

Drake’s equation suggests that mathematically we should have many companion species out in the stars, Other species or intelligences to have industrialized and achieve technical wonders.The infinite monkey theorem tells us that given enough instances any outcome is possible. There are trillions of stars and trillions upon trillions of planets. Do any of these planets also hold listeners?

Are there any other species that live in populated Industrialized technological worlds that spit out tons of electromagnetic noise, radio frequency, Infrared, Microwave ultraviolet Lighting up their section of the Galaxy?

In its loneliness, humanity now seeks to create a friend, an ally, a companion, A mechanical mind, a positronic brain – To work alongside us to unravel the secrets of engineering and science. Where we couldn’t find intelligences out in the stars humanity rather seeks to create it out of machines. Someone who will help out with all the work that it takes to be alive, and this Enterprise called civilization 

The idea of robotic artificial companions has long captured The imagination of humanity and its thinkers. Descriptions of artificial intelligence and mechanized people are as old as so many of our technologies and sciences, as old as our cities and universities.

 But what type of companions would these artificial minds be? How would they work with us? Will they lead us to a golden era, complimenting our weaknesses, enhancing our strengths, building a greater better society. Or would our relationship take a darker turn of competitive rivalry. If we are to build our companions, how will we make sure that they don’t turn against us?  How can we be sure that sharing civilization with them isn’t a mistake? Could we make ourselves better friends and companions better than we could ever find out in the Stars?

 If we’ve built the positronic brain, what will the day of technological singularity be?  The moment when the artificial brain can outcompete the human in every way, without weaknesses or limitations. Would the robots be kinder to humanity than we were to ourselves or would it repeat the same mistakes that we have in the past? Choosing to rule through violence and submission? A new form of imperialism, Al robotic imperialism. Would the robots also seek to dominate?

Issac Asimov proposes 3 laws upon which all architecture of the artificial mind should be built. Guiding principles for building all mechanical thinking machines, positronic brains. The 3 laws of robotics. Lower law being subservient to the higher laws

First Law

A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

Second Law

A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

Third Law

A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

So if robots wanted to continue to follow the first law, to better protect humanity; an addendum would be needed. The way for them to hurt a person – bending the laws, but achieving the objective to protect Humanity As a whole on a grander scale 

An additional law would be needed, One that can supersede the first three laws. That would allow the robots to make the hard choices for the best of humanity. To hurt an individual but help the herd. A robotic law that allows the robots to function as a quiet, silent, Hidden Hand That guides the course of human civilization from the shadows shaping the outcome of human events.

Zeroth Law

A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.