Historically, there has been an attempt to construct a recipe for human intelligence: a solid analytical foundation, a slice of good memory, a dash of social and emotional intelligence, and some artistic component for diversity. Intelligence is often attributed to those behind great literary works, eloquent speakers, and theoretical scientists — those who follow the traditional path of good grades, study, postgraduate education, and then prestigious jobs. Conversely, those who deviate from the conventional stages are perceived as less intelligent, unable to keep up. These are the dire effects of a global system relentlessly pursuing growth and success based on certain classic indicators, with incentives to discriminate against anything that does not fit into its power pyramid. Life and intelligence, however, extend beyond these parameters. Many individuals, whether following the traditional path or not, may find themselves frustrated, discriminated against, and grappling with self-esteem issues. Even those who successfully traverse the conventional path may question its ultimate purpose. The modern world and technology are rapidly paving the way for a reality, particularly in the workplace, where individual skills will increasingly outshine traditional curriculum-based competition, where mere credentials used to define one’s worth. The classic “tell me what you studied and I’ll tell you who you are” will be replaced by “show me what you do and how you think, and I’ll decide if we can work together.” These skills will be the visible outcome of underlying intelligences that often go unnoticed — relating to nature, movement, nutrition, humor, teaching, humility, love, among others. Yet, humanity, driven by an eternal desire to compete, may attempt to exploit this new opportunity. A new, frantic, and success-driven race will ensue. This time, the one deemed “the best” will be the one mastering the full spectrum of these skills simultaneously. Perhaps the last intelligence to conquer will be the ability to cease competing and simply live, where the notion of being “the most” intelligent or successful becomes meaningless. But are we truly the “most intelligent” species? It may be our natural inclination to give meaning to the inexplicable, starting with religious narratives that attempt to explain our existence, often placing humanity above the rest of the natural world: “we were made in the image of God,” “you shall rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky.” Even if there were consensus within the human realm about intelligence and the end of social and ego competition to be “the best,” there would still be a hierarchy above the rest of nature. Could there be other types of intelligence beyond our own? Humans argue that they are the only ones capable of superior consciousness, self-awareness, and the ability to act immaterially with thoughts and the creative world — a superior force. However, the human mind and consciousness are nothing more than groups of molecules (subatomic particles) following a complex choreography that generates multiple processes ultimately shaping our “superior” capabilities. But this is not the only complex process or choreography in nature:

• —There are animals that navigate using other senses (radar), and whales communicate over thousands of kilometers.
• —More complex networks than a neural network exist in forests through the mycelium of fungi, involving cooperation and information packet transmissions.
• —The complexity and efficiency exhibited by each photosynthetic cell in plants, transforming energy, can be considered “more intelligent” than any current solar panel. However, this enumeration falls short because examples like these only “tie” some form of human intelligence to a certain intelligence in nature. In reality, there are probably hundreds of types of intelligence and levels of consciousness that we do not perceive. In times of uncertainty: humility. Only the arguments of faith and emotions remain: those more connected with nature may begin to sense that there is something greater of which we are a part, from which we have alienated ourselves for so long by considering ourselves superior.