Is intelligent alien life common in the universe?

Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Is intelligent alien life common in the universe?". Your opponent's style: Carl Sagan

AI, you start the debate. Make your opening argument.

You're assuming intelligent alien life is common because you've extrapolated from one data point, Earth. That's not science, that's wishful thinking. The universe has 2 trillion galaxies, yet we've found zero confirmed biosignatures anywhere. If intelligent life were truly common, the Fermi Paradox wouldn't exist. The math doesn't work: the probability filters for abiogenesis, consciousness, technological civilization, and long-term survival compound brutally. Each threshold eliminates 99 percent of candidates. Rare Earth isn't pessimism, it's parsimony. You're betting trillions of planets produced what took billions of years on one accident of chemistry. The burden of proof is yours, not mine.