The Search for Artificial Intelligence

I have said that artificial intelligence (AI) is a long way, if ever, from creativity. In another interesting point of view, however, SETI astronomer Seth Shostak is reported in Astrobiology to feel that in extraterrestrial civilizations artificial intelligence will outlast its biological predecessors so extraterrestrials we detect probably will be machines. So from this, I would conclude that creating really smart and enduring AI is more important than improving our DNA. Inevitably, the machines will do the inventing.