New scientific findings indicate that intelligence on Earth has evolved at least twice independently, specifically in birds and mammals. This conclusion is based on studies of complex neural circuits in both groups, which show that the structures supporting advanced cognitive abilities—such as problem-solving, planning, and social behavior—arose separately after their evolutionary lineages diverged. While both birds (such as crows and parrots) and mammals (including primates and dolphins) display high levels of intelligence, their brains are organized differently. For example, mammals possess a neocortex, a brain region associated with higher-order thinking, while birds have a structure called the pallium that performs similar functions but evolved independently. These findings challenge the traditional view that intelligence is a rare or unique trait among vertebrates, and suggest that the evolutionary pressures favoring intelligence may be more common than previously thought. The research also has implications for understanding the evolution of the human brain, as it highlights the possibility that complex cognitive abilities can emerge through different biological pathways. In the context of growing interest in artificial intelligence, these discoveries may inform how scientists think about the origins and mechanisms of intelligence, both natural and artificial.