Is it possible for creatures with intelligence more advanced than humans to evolve naturally in the universe?

Possibly, for us, it was a combination of different things after it reached a certain level:

Human intelligence is limited by how the brain works, and how big the head on a baby can be.

And since the universe is so enormously big, it would be strange if we were the most intelligent creatures. Though, we will probably never find out.

What should I be looking for when trying out running shoes? Local store lets me try the shoe and jog up and down the block, but they mostly feel the same to me. Is there some feeling or anything else specific I should be looking for?

Social groups, and theory of mind. You needed to keep tabs on everyone in the group and understand their drives. Being able to negotiate. It takes intelligence to succeed with this.

Sexual selection. Intelligence is sexy. If you could tell a better story, make a better plan, make a better tool or weapon, you would be popular and get laid.

Then we can wonder about the evolutionary selection pressure for intelligence.

Spiraling with ChatGPT - TechCrunch

So let's say that the aliens have fewer restrictions on brain size, and have more efficient brain wetware, and are subject to sexual selection for intelligence, then they will likely be much more intelligent than us.

Aliens may have more efficient brains than humans, like birds, or even more efficient than any animal on Earth.

They may also not have the same limitations for the size of a birth canal. If they are similar to marsupials, the baby would be born very small and then develop in the pouch, without head restrictions of the birth canal.

Why don't the EU leaders who want even more war instead of peace send their sons (and daughters) to fight in Ukraine? Zelensky accepts volunteers this very moment. 3,000 dollars a month, all expenses paid.

Right here on Earth, birds have at least twice as dense brains as humans. That means that they cram at least twice the computing capacity in the same space as primates. If we had bird brains we might have been much more intelligent.