If it existed within our observable limits we are likely to have heard of it.

The Fermi paradox doesn't imply sophisticated alien life exists on earth.

Of all observations we have have only found one species able to leave their planet deliberately. That's humans. There no evidence of any species leaving their solar system. Humans have never went beyond the moon, other than robots. Only one of which has reached the end of the solar system, but not entering another.

We also have no evidence of life on another planet to base any calculations on. The best estimate of life existing anywhere else is zero. You need another observation per planet to make any realistic estimate.

People are biased even physicts by the desire for extraterrestrial life. It adults looking for a father figure, we had god but once we went beyond the clouds and developed the ability to explain most phenomenon people look for a replacement. Someone to explain all our problems and give us solutions.