... It is difficult to say. Like the comments have stated, What kind of intelligence are you looking for?

But, From my knowledge (as no expert in anything whatsoever), Humans have extremly good cumulative intelligence: as in what is learnt in one generation is passed down onto the next allowing for innovation and improvement over relatively few generations. This is due to the fact that humans only need to see something happen once or twice before they learn how to do it themselves (unlike chimps whom every generation have to learn an ability from scratch all over again).

Another factor to consider is what animal they are evolving from. For example, Humans could create and use the tools they did because their evolutionary ancestors had paws (hands) made for gripping. Dolphins on the other hand, whilst they are intelligent and do use tools, have only their mouth to grip onto objects. Therefore if you wish to create a species similar to humans they must not only have the right type of intelligence, but also the means of which to use that intelligence in a manner similar to a human.

So to conclude, It all depends on the type of intelligence you are looking for and the abilities the creature can quickly evolve to use in the way you are looking for. There are plenty of animals with intelligence near or on par with humanity but overall to create what i think you're looking for you need: A social species (in which social intelligence can grow), cumulative intelligence (where ideas can be spread and improved upon quickly), an environmental pressure which encourages forethought and creativity (such as rapid climate change), and a species with the physical abilities necessary to use, interact and create in a manner similar to humanity.

Like the comments have stated, What kind of intelligence are you looking for?

But, From my knowledge (as no expert in anything whatsoever), Humans have extremly good cumulative intelligence: as in what is learnt in one generation is passed down onto the next allowing for innovation and improvement over relatively few generations. This is due to the fact that humans only need to see something happen once or twice before they learn how to do it themselves (unlike chimps whom every generation have to learn an ability from scratch all over again).

Another factor to consider is what animal they are evolving from. For example, Humans could create and use the tools they did because their evolutionary ancestors had paws (hands) made for gripping. Dolphins on the other hand, whilst they are intelligent and do use tools, have only their mouth to grip onto objects. Therefore if you wish to create a species similar to humans they must not only have the right type of intelligence, but also the means of which to use that intelligence in a manner similar to a human.

So to conclude, There are plenty of animals with intelligence near or on par with humanity but overall to create what i think you're looking for you need: A social species (in which social intelligence can grow), cumulative intelligence (where ideas can be spread and improved upon quickly), an environmental pressure which encourages forethought and creativity (such as rapid climate change), and a species with the physical abilities necessary to use, interact and create in a manner similar to humanity.

... It is difficult to say. Like the comments have stated, What kind of intelligence are you looking for?

But, From my knowledge (as no expert in anything whatsoever), Human intelligence is unique in that we have cumulative intelligence: as in what is learnt in one generation is passed down onto the next allowing for innovation and improvement over relatively few generations. This is due to the fact that humans only need to see something happen once or twice before they learn how to do it themselves (unlike chimps whom every generation have to learn an ability from scratch all over again).

Another factor to consider is what animal they are evolving from. For example, Humans could create and use the tools they did because their evolutionary ancestors had paws (hands) made for gripping. Dolphins on the other hand, whilst they are intelligent and do use tools, have only their mouth to grip onto objects. Therefore if you wish to create a species similar to humans they must not only have the right type of intelligence, but also the means of which to use that intelligence in a manner similar to a human.

So to conclude, It all depends on the type of intelligence you are looking for and the abilities the creature can quickly evolve to use in the way you are looking for. There are plenty of animals with intelligence near or on par with humanity but overall to create what i think you're looking for you need: A social species (in which social intelligence can grow), cumulative intelligence (where ideas can be spread and improved upon quickly), an environmental pressure which encourages forethought and creativity (such as rapid climate change), and a species with the physical abilities necessary to use, interact and create in a manner similar to humanity.

... It is difficult to say. Like the comments have stated, What kind of intelligence are you looking for?

But, From my knowledge (as no expert in anything whatsoever), Humans have extremly good cumulative intelligence: as in what is learnt in one generation is passed down onto the next allowing for innovation and improvement over relatively few generations. This is due to the fact that humans only need to see something happen once or twice before they learn how to do it themselves (unlike chimps whom every generation have to learn an ability from scratch all over again).

Another factor to consider is what animal they are evolving from. For example, Humans could create and use the tools they did because their evolutionary ancestors had paws (hands) made for gripping. Dolphins on the other hand, whilst they are intelligent and do use tools, have only their mouth to grip onto objects. Therefore if you wish to create a species similar to humans they must not only have the right type of intelligence, but also the means of which to use that intelligence in a manner similar to a human.

So to conclude, It all depends on the type of intelligence you are looking for and the abilities the creature can quickly evolve to use in the way you are looking for. There are plenty of animals with intelligence near or on par with humanity but overall to create what i think you're looking for you need: A social species (in which social intelligence can grow), cumulative intelligence (where ideas can be spread and improved upon quickly), an environmental pressure which encourages forethought and creativity (such as rapid climate change), and a species with the physical abilities necessary to use, interact and create in a manner similar to humanity.