In my perspective this goal Is not as important If:

This is not the only universe and there are many others with complex conscientious life

( Or if the universe doesn't come to an end via heat death but rather collapses in on Itself to generate a new universe with either the same, similar or completely different rules, both "ifs" come to the same conclusion)

Or

Self conscious life is completely common and we are not the only ones to do It