https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/09/octopuse...
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-mind-of-an-oc...
We're quite close to dolphins and killer whales, so the essence of their intelligence is easier for us to understand, because they are more like us.
Bees, termites, ants, etc. are really interesting because any individual is pretty stupid, but the entire swarm is complex and intelligent.
I don't need to concentrate on finger or hand movements while I'm typing this. My brain thinks about the words while it delegates the details to other systems. There's an incredible amount of processing involved in operating human limbs which we're mostly unaware of.
I'd guess octopus consciousness is similar - goal oriented, with delegation. I'm mot sure, given the relatively small distances involved, if the slight physical separation of the central and distributed brains would make a huge difference to having an all-in-one model with distinct areas squished up inside a single unit.
But I absolutely agree - they are amazing and fascinating. If they were more social they'd probably be running the planet.
Humans have two semi-autonomous brain hemispheres, each with a slightly different personality.
Personally I am impressed that cephalopods can be as intelligent and resourceful as they are while being cold-blooded, though I suppose tropical species don't suffer much from that problem.
And, of course, they're just interesting creatures regardless. Their bodies is flexible, yet strong, like one continuous muscle. Each tentacle has a slightly different "personality;" for a single octopus, some of its tentacles are more adventurous while others are more shy. They can change the color of their entire body, and do, for reasons we haven't figured out yet. They mate once, after which the female guards the egg cache without moving from the spot until she withers away.
Everything I read about them absolutely floors me. They're the closest thing we have to an intelligent alien species.