>>941169603
There are 2 dimensions to how we understand the brain; the first is neuroscience in principle, which says the brain operates at about 90watts and is bottlenecked by its thermal properties. The second is less well understood and acknowledges the clear use of subatomic regimes to record and transmit data in parallel with electrical activity. Science recognizes both of these dimensions.

The issue you run up against is that an alien individual may be capable of achieving levels of intelligence we wouldn't comprehend if their body layout permitted it. However due to the existence of subatomic effects in consciousness, there is a precedent that all organisms share some degree of behavioral language that is necessary for survival in physical reality. So there's no reason to assume a vastly superior rational intelligence wouldn't be interested in associating with humans; we would share far more than we differ.

The more rational approach to this whole debate is to concede our understanding of intelligence and life is way too flawed to allow us to define anything as 'dead' matter on principle, which again gives us more common ground rather than less.