While most people are worried about artificial intelligence-driven robots, a University of Oxford biologist says its octopuses that are actually the creatures most likely to take over the world. That is, once humans have been erased from the planet (probably by those robots).
Professor and author Tim Coulson says octopuses have the “physical and mental attributes necessary” to take over as the next civilization builders. They just need humans to go away.
“The fate of all species is extinction,” Coulson told Metro. “In fact, 99.9% of all species that have ever existed are extinct. So, humans will go extinct.”
He also said that it isn’t out of the question that octopuses could “make forays onto land” once all of the humans are gone.
“If they do what we do, you know, change the terrestrial surface as we have done on land through agriculture and all of this sort of stuff,” he continued. “You can imagine them having done the same in their marine environment.”
Robots and octopuses working together to rule the world
“‘Let’s try and go on land and see if there’s anything we can use there,'” Coulson imagines the octopuses saying to themselves.
“We made scuba gear. Maybe they could make the reverse of that, kind of wander onto land,” he continued. “They’d need some support there. Obviously, they’d need to create some sort of robots to help them move around. You never know, they could up on top hunting deer and things like that. I think that would be hysterical. I’m not quite sure how they’d cook it underwater. I haven’t really thought about that. Maybe a thermal vent.
“I’m sure over time they would certainly evolve,” he added.
Tim Coulson probably isn’t wrong about that. Octopuses are probably just waiting for the right time to activate their alien DNA, then it’s game over.
“Their advanced neural structure, decentralized nervous system, and remarkable problem-solving skills make octopuses uniquely suited for an unpredictable world,” Coulson told The European in 2024.
“These qualities could allow them to exploit new niches and adapt to a changing planet, especially in the absence of human influence.
“In a world where mammals dominate, octopuses remain an underappreciated contender. Their advanced cognition, tool-use, and ability to adapt to changing environments provide a blueprint for what might emerge as the planet’s next intelligent species after humans.”