[dist-epoch]

Our intelligence happened without an existing one. primordial cell -> intelligent human through Darwinian evolution.

[ben_w]

I would argue that evolution is a form of intelligence in its own right, albeit one very alien to us.

But that doesn't change your point, as there's no reason to require an intelligence to create evolution.

[dist-epoch]

There are some which argue that "ever increasing complexity" is a law/consequence of physics.

https://www.space.com/scientists-propose-missing-law-evoluti...

[mensetmanusman]

All of reality following governing laws with arbitrary precision is certainly a type of intelligence plane that came before the universe’s big bang.