NVIDIA and SETI Institute partner to search for extraterrestrial intelligence using AI

NVIDIA is collaborating with the SETI Institute to develop an artificial intelligence system designed to search for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. The project, which operates at the Allen Telescope Array in California, explores the hypothesis that advanced civilizations may also possess AI.

The new technology enables automated telescope control, data processing, and near real-time identification of notable signals. By utilizing NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell processors, the system can handle up to 2.4 terabits of data per second, allowing researchers to analyze massive datasets instantly rather than waiting for observation sessions to conclude.

Scientists can interact with the system using natural language to coordinate complex tasks. During testing, the AI successfully identified signals from a pulsar within the Crab Nebula.