No, an "observer" in the context of quantum physics does not have to be alive or conscious. In quantum mechanics, the term "observer" is often used to refer to any interaction or measurement that affects the quantum system being observed.
In quantum theory, the act of measurement or observation causes the wave function of a quantum system to "collapse" into a specific state. This collapse is often described as the system "choosing" one of its possible states. However, it is important to note that this collapse is not dependent on the presence of a conscious observer. It can occur through any interaction between the quantum system and its environment, which can be a physical apparatus, a detector, or any other system capable of registering the outcome of the measurement.
The concept of observation or measurement in quantum mechanics is about extracting information from a system, and it is the act of extracting that information that causes the collapse of the wave function. Whether the observer is a human, a machine, or an automated process, the principles of quantum mechanics apply in the same way.
It's worth mentioning that there are interpretations of quantum mechanics, such as the Copenhagen interpretation, that emphasize the role of measurement and the involvement of observers. However, the notion of an observer in quantum physics does not require consciousness or human involvement. It is a more general concept related to the interaction and extraction of information from quantum systems.