Immortal AI, space radiation, and materials science

Summary: The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) based on electronic hardware and the field of AI for science and autonomous experimentation raises the question of how far AI can go in the longer time horizon. Can AI supersede biological intelligence? Will electricity production limit AI? This article is a speculative discussion based on current scientific knowledge, aiming to explore the physical limits of biological and artificial intelligence in interstellar colonization. It is shown that the intrinsic limitations of biology would make it exceedingly difficult to escape Earth, whereas embodied AI powered by nuclear energy would not be similarly constrained. A key timescale of 105 years is required to travel to the hundred nearest exoplanets at a speed that is feasible with today’s technology and matches the energy scale provided by breeder nuclear reactors. Nuclear materials science and recycling are keys in this endeavor, which may be accomplished by embodied AI agents or “AIiens.” The ethics of AI and sociopolitical consequences are fundamental challenges. Earth is unique and must be preserved for organic life. Broader context: In this perspective, we extend the connection between artificial intelligence and energy use to the context of space exploration. Radiation tolerance and timescale of space travel put biology at a disadvantage for deep space exploration compared to hard materials-based artificial intelligence systems that can evolve autonomously in space, driven by nuclear energy. For these reasons, Earth is very special and must be preserved for organic life.