In the darkest section of the night sky where no stars can be seen by eye or ordinary telescope, one long exposure of a quarter sized patch in that dark spot revealed 52,000,000 galaxies ...
As I understand it, the first stars had nothing but protons and Helium nuclei to work with as these stars were necessary to form the elements further along in the periodic table. It was only after these stars formed these heavier elements and died dispersing these elements did these elements become available in the universe to begin creating things that could become life (as we know it). So there could not be life based on Carbon or anything else until then next generation of stars formed. I am guessing but my guess is that our sun is one of those second generation of stars that met the criteria, having a solar system containing heavier elements.
That is why our sun is considered to be 18 billion years old as opposed to the asteroids of nickel iron that are 50 billion years old. Our sun has billions of years left and galaxies are still pumping out new stars, it seems, so what does later is anyone’s guess but we may be “the first” of many to come. The bar scene in Star Wars may come but it may be 20 billion years off.
OTOH, if some kind of intellect could arise based on Protons and Helium they could be billions of years ahead of us but it would certainly be a kind of “life form” we probably would not be able to interact with. Things to consider...