The search for life beyond our planet is fueled by the possibility that there may be other forms of intelligent life that exist outside of our planet, especially since we know that the conditions to sustain basic life forms may exist on other planets.
The idea of sending AI systems instead of humans to explore space may generate more knowledge and understanding of the universe, while also avoiding potential ethical and safety concerns associated with human space travel.
In order for our species to survive, we need to explore and potentially colonize other planets due to the instability of Earth. The exploration of space offers a new frontier for discovery and could potentially allow for affordable civilian travel in the future.
The hope is for humanity to reach a point where there is the same love for unknown strangers as there is for loved ones, and this love should be put into the intent of exploring and settling into other planets. Although exploring other planets will happen since humans are explorers, the last days should be spent on Earth.
While discussions about AI alignment and the trolley dilemma may be important for AGI in the future, the biggest hurdle for self-driving cars today is the ability to recognize unexpected obstacles and react accordingly to prevent accidents.