you should check out chemistry, and nuclear physics, it will probably blow your mind.
it seems you have an inside scoop, lets go through what is required to create a silicon logic gate that changes function according to past events, and projected trends?
Once you admit that higher level structures can be intelligent, even though they're built on non-dynamic, non-adaptive technology -- then there's as much reason to think that software running on silicon can do it too. Just like the higher level chemistry, nuclear physics, and any other "biological software" can do on top of the non-dynamic, non-learning, atoms of your body.
The output of a silicon system that reprograms itself, and the output of a neural system that rearranges itself, are indistinguishable.
not only that code is only as dynamic as the rules of the language will permit.
silicon and code cant break the rule, or change the rules, biological adaptive hysteretic, out of band informatic neural systems do, and repeat, silicon and code cant.
Unless you are going to take the position that neural systems transcend mathmatics (i.e. they are magic), there is no theoretical reason that a brain can't run on silicon. It's all just numbers, no magic spirit energy.
We've had evolutionary algorithms and programs that self-train themselves for decades now.