This movie never addressed the Fermi Paradox

The Fermi Paradox is arrogant. What makes the Earth and this solar system SO significant that because we haven't been contacted, we are likely alone? That seems a real stretch to make. If one has a perspective, an actual perspective, on the universe, we are tiny and insignificant. We have also done very little to transmit our existence into the universe.

On the other hand, WE might be the result of an alien visit to Earth. Who's to say we're not?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox#Inflation_hypothesis_and_the_youngness_argument

"It may be that non-colonizing technologically capable alien civilizations exist, but that they are simply too far apart for meaningful two-way communication.[60] If two civilizations are separated by several thousand light years, it is possible that one or both cultures may become extinct before meaningful dialogue can be established. "

The Fermi paradox only rules out hyper advanced beings, so I suppose you're right for the movie - though they could have numerous reasons for avoiding contact.

The fermi paradox doesn't rule out life throughout the universe at our level of technology or less.

The zoo hypothesis is the way this movie answers it.

Maybe we are so far below them in our technology and advancement that we are but mindless ants swarming the anthills in Africa to them.

So, how many planets has the human race colonized in sixty-five million years? Colonization is not an effective way of spreading life through the universe. Life is created in the universe through evolution, i.e. completely by accident meaning that the existence of anything in the universe is a lottery with gazillion to one odds. However, given enough time life WILL EVENTUALLY EXIST anywhere it can, but its composition will be completely dependent on its environment and the physical laws that control it. The rest is just accomplished by repeatedly rolling the dice over and over again to keep the evolutionary process going.


Promise me, no matter how hopeless things get, keep on trying, OK? Keep coming chin-up, OK?

We may soon discover that life exists or at least existed in the past on Mars, probably in microbial form. Life is also likely to exist in the ocean of Europa and/or several other similar oceans-beneath-the-surface moons of Jupiter and Saturn. A different form of life thriving on methane is possible on Titan. If any of these discoveries are made, the chance of life, including intelligent life, developing elsewhere in this galaxy rises exponentially.

If an advanced civilization doesn't self-destruct (as humanity appears intent on doing), then once they develop AI the machines will either take over or at least do all of the dangerous stuff like space travel. Biologicals, if they still exist, will likely remain at home or at least close by (like colonies on the Moon or Mars, for example). If they were smarter than humans (which they would have to be to survive), they would likely have an escape plan in case of impending planetary catastrophe like an expanding sun or an approaching black hole. They might establish strategically placed colonies in various other solar systems in order to prevent extinction of their race by gamma ray bursts or other life extinguishing or sterilizing phenomena.

Undoubtedly there are many unknown dangers in space that humans have yet to discover. In any case, there would be no logical reason for biologicals to physically colonize the galaxy when the machines could report back anything of interest (assuming FTL travel and/or communication via wormholes, warp drives or some means yet to be discovered). The machines could be nanobots that unsuspecting beings on alien planets would never notice. Or they could simulate alien life forms - including us - and be sitting next to you next time you're at a restaurant or coffee shop.

Personally, I'm not to sure about Fermi. After all, wouldn't an undercover ET want to throw humanity off the scent? Anyone ever check Fermi's DNA? - Just kidding!!! But then he did develop the world's first atomic pile which helped lead to the A-bomb and later the H-bomb that could ultimately bring about the destruction of mankind, hmmm. But then the earth wouldn't be of much use for a long time after an all-out nuclear exchange so probably not.

Personally, I would find it incredibly sad if humans on this earth were the only intelligent species in the galaxy. Then we would truly be alone.

How about it takes about the same time for sentient life to develop on most of the planets (we had help from moon) and so all the aliens in the universe are almost at the same scientific or technological level. If we find out a way to travel such huge distances instantly they would too around the same time (and of course then we have traffic jams and fender benders ;-))

I believe advancement can only take you so far. While wormholes may exist, it's beyond our abilities to make one. It simply is impossible to travel faster than the speed of light, and we will never reach another solar system. For better or for worse, we are stuck here. The laws of physics just don't allow travel to other solar systems.