Evolution of Intelligence

What if human intelligence is just a step on the way to more advanced intelligence, which may eventually evolve into super intelligence? Our intelligence might turn out to be extremely primitive compared to what might evolve on earth in the future or what we might find somewhere else in the universe. I believe that the purpose of the universe is to spawn and nurture intelligence, as it has here on earth. Evolution is the mechanism employed by the universe to cultivate intelligence. We don’t know if this process has worked on other worlds the way is has on earth, but considering the sheer size of the universe, the odds are good that it has. We must consider the possibility, or likelihood, that humans are just another transitory species that has inhabited the earth for a period of time and which, like all other species, will not be able to escape extinction. While this future may come true, we, unlike any species before us, have the capability to affect our own evolution.

We seem to be at a point in the history of the entire universe where we can have a profound impact on the evolution of intelligence. We have used our intelligence to create another, potentially greater, intelligence in AI. Now, we have the opportunity to merge with this new intelligence to enhance our own. We will also continue to enhance AI indefinitely until it has the capability to enhance itself. At that point it will be well on its way to becoming the super intelligence. This coming super intelligence will be able to reshape the universe and thus give us, or more likely our descendants, continued life. The thought of us being an important part of the evolution of the super intelligence should fill us with a sense of profound purpose.