"What does a cosmic-spanning-AI want to do with its life" Reproduce, evidently, or it wouldn't be cosmic-spanning. But: of what use is intelligence if you jus

"What does a cosmic-spanning-AI want to do with its life" Reproduce, evidently, or it wouldn't be cosmic-spanning. But: of what use is intelligence if you just want to span the cosmos? Would evolution favor less intelligence over more if the goal is just to spread at maximum rate? There are many things intelligence might be good for. Adapting to an environment that is uncertain and changing would be one. The better you are biologically adapted to your niche, and the more stable your niche is, the less intelligent you need to be. Cooperation would be another. The more social your species is, the more you need to be able to coordinate with one another, which means being able to communicate. Competition with other intelligent forms might be another. Intelligence could be seen as an arms race where in order to beat out the tribe next door, you need to out-think them. Humans tick all 3 boxes. We are social animals who survive by cooperation, but in a rapidly changing world full of other intelligent animals who are always competing with us for resources. That's a recipe for intelligence. You will find extraterrestrial intelligence in situations where similar forces are at work.