Public Reactions to Potential Nonhuman Intelligence: Ontological Shock, Four Response Types, and the Mental Health Imperative

To the point

If nonhuman intelligence is confirmed, people will respond in several ways as their beliefs about reality are challenged, falling into four categories—concern, positive responses, skepticism or indifference, and critical engagement—with anxiety from uncertainty rising especially among vulnerable groups, the risk of misinformation and conspiracy theories increasing, and mental health professionals helping people evaluate evidence and fit new information into a coherent view as humanity expands its sense of place in the cosmos.