Habitable planets - NOT amateur radio

There are an unbelievable number of planets believed to exist in the universe. Human consciousness should just cease when we die. The truth is we have no idea what happens. If anyone claims to know, I don't believe them.

There are estimated to be more planets in the known universe than grains of sand in the whole world!  I find this and life totally mind blowing. We really know so little.

See https://www.livescience.com/space/how-many-planets-are-in-the-universe .

It is estimated there are 100 sextillion (10 followed by 23 0s!!!) planets. This is a huge number.

Considering the huge advances in AI in just a few years, it is hard to be certain what we find is sentient life.

Human consciousness - NOT amateur radio

We hear a lot these days about AI. One of my Cambridge University of the Third Age courses is about AI. It is very good and thought provoking.

At the moment AI is not very good with irony or jokes. No doubt with time and better training this will improve.

I guess what we fail to really understand is human consciousness. Just what makes us able to think, become aware of ourselves etc.? In my mind there is a huge difference between the accumulation of all the knowledge on the internet, and of wisdom.  AI can learn all about all the knowledge on the internet, but still not be wise or be able to contemplate its very existence.

At some point I wonder if we will be able to say exactly what human consciousness really is?  In many ways this is a philosophical question.