fire, electricity, and life/intelligence are result of the same - entropy equalization along the gradient between low entropy region in parameter space and the rest of the space, ie. 2nd law.

AI looks like the next step in that ladder as it isn't limited by physical limitations of a protein based life body, ie. it has all the chances to transcend the current practical limit of 1.5kg of wet live matter blob with 100B elements and 100T connections.