You can learn a lot about humanity by listening to the conversations happening at a bar.

For example, recently I found myself discussing whether aliens built the pyramids.

Not whether aliens exist. No, apparently we had advanced beyond that. We were already assigning them construction contracts.

And honestly, if aliens did build the pyramids, I have questions.

What have they been building since?

Because the pyramids were a pretty impressive flex. Massive stones. Perfect geometry. Mysterious purpose. No Home Depot. No power tools. No contractor screaming about permits.

And then nothing?

Did the aliens take a few thousand years off?

Are they sitting somewhere in the universe thinking, “We really peaked with Giza.”

Or perhaps they moved into a different field.

Maybe they built the Roman aqueducts.

The internet.

The IKEA instructions that somehow contain 47 pieces labeled “B” but only 46 pieces in the box.

Or maybe, and this is where the conversation got particularly disturbing, they’ve moved on to AI.

Perhaps they aren’t building things anymore.

Perhaps they’re building us.

Maybe AI isn’t humanity’s great invention. Maybe we’re simply the latest construction project.

Which would explain why it occasionally seems smarter than we are.

And if aliens are behind AI, I have one request.

Please don’t let them give it a sense of humor.

Humanity has already spent thousands of years constructing civilizations, religions, skyscrapers, social media and group chats.

We don’t need an extraterrestrial finishing contractor.

Although I admit, I’d love to know what their next project is.

Because if they built the pyramids, I’m thinking we’re either about to see something spectacular or we’re all about to become someone’s very complicated IKEA assembly instructions.