This story made me think that it's funny how much time we spend trying to develop AI and wondering whether there is intelligent life on other planets, inventing

This story made me think that it's funny how much time we spend trying to develop AI and wondering whether there is intelligent life on other planets, inventing fantastical life forms in fantasy novels like walking trees when there is sentient, intelligent life all around us that we barely notice! When I see an animal I try to think, what is it's life history, where does it sleep at night, etc. I try to think of them as individuals, recognize them. As humans we are shockingly bad observers of the living beings around us. Apparently some fish have homes and are surprisingly intelligent, now I know some spiders live 43 years, what kind of spidery wisdom did it develop during it's long life? Is there any way to know?