[crancher]

The encoding of information isn't specific to humans or "human spirit" is it?

Encoding happens.

We seem to be the first local observers of encoding, but we didn't initiate encoding.

In fact, we're entirely the result of (and dependent upon) an information encoding process we had no role in creating.

"AI" is simply another encoder within an encoder within an encoder... etc.

The value of discovering and propagating valuable/useful/potent encodings is the underlying pressure producing all encoding systems. Look there for "spirit"?