It may take some time for humans to prove that we're the first ones to develop consciousness in the universe. Meanwhile, the hunt for ETs continue as long as there is money to answer this question.
https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2018/04/02/598813352/is-humanity-unusual-in-the-cosmos https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2018/04/02/598813352/is-humanity-unusual-in-the-cosmos
