We are indeed mass become conscious and I do think we play a special role in the Universe, however, we shouldn't let this "specialness" let us forget that so does all life on this planet. We look for intelligent life in space when we fail to comprehend the intelligent life all around us.
Absolutely agree 100% @saltycat. If we finish the premise that the universe evolved consciousness to explore itself, then every individual perspective on the universe adds to its total understanding. We as individuals and every other living being and even "lifeless" objects maybe, each provide but a small slither of what is reality. What does it feel like to see the world though echo-location? How does a worm experience its interaction with its world? Only the universe knows.
That's how I choose to see it, of course ;-) Thanks so much for sharing your perspective :-)