Lex - We  can't understand something, in this case, our mind, by using itself.  I.e. Some <b>thing</b> doesn't have the ability to look outside itself to properly analyze itself.  It needs to be done by something other than itself because it (the brain) can only think within the limits it "knows".  Therefore, I believe an outside "thing" has to analyze us/our brain subjectively but without our human preconceived notions...and I believe that thing to be AI.  I believe AI can eventually be created to mimic a human's process of acquiring knowledge BUT apply it from a view outside of ourselves....something we can NEVER possibly do...just by the very laws of nature. How can something create more "energy" (thoughts) than it is capable of comprehending?  It's a paradox.,(reply>), Also, I like your estimates though I was at 1.0 on the pessimistic side and 75% on % of stars with planets.  Though you're, obviously, more correct since you're number is closer to 1 and, from what we know, 1 is accurate...but factoring time being infinite and relative then really all these equations are useless since, eventually everything will happen at some point forever.  I.e. Even if one doesn't believe in an afterlife but does believe time is infinite and does believe matter cannot be created nor destroyed...then, eventually, every atom will rearrange itself into the same exact way they're arranged right now...so we're essentially immortal.