The consciousness (see the table of consciousness layers) is defined as the sum of all perceptive, governing and control mechanisms (potential and functional) which enable activation, dynamics, perspective and duration to a certain form of the existence. It represents the realization of the intelligence, which is the understanding of the existence from four aspects:
(1) aspect of the perspective (evolutionary intelligence),
(2) aspect of the need (emotional intelligence)
(3) aspect of the concrete causality (logical intelligence)
(4) aspect of the universal causality (intuitive intelligence).
From the list one can conclude that the form of the existence which could not understand its own existance, could not be able to preserve it, and would instantaneously cease to exist.
Non-living matter has two active consciousness layers (11th and 17th) and only two forms of the intelligence: evolutionary and emotional. In living beings there are eight active consciousness layers (1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th and 17th) and there are three forms of intelligence – evolutionary, emotional and logical one. Intelligent beings use actively all 17 consciousness layers and all four form of intelligence. Consciousness layers are ideal functional units for the optimal functioning of the integral interactive dynamics of the consciousness function. There exist 17 such layers on the level of total integral interactive dynamics of consciousness function. The 1st layer is entitled the conscious one while the other 16 are unconscious. Due to the fact that consciousness layers are independent energetically units, their individual characteristics manifest in the interactions of particular consciousness layers of certain organization level (non-living matter, living beings, and intelligent beings).
Intelligence, which is the understanding of the existance from four aspects:
(5) aspect of the perspective (evolutionary intelligence),
(6) aspect of the need (emotional intelligence)
(7) aspect of the concrete causality (logical intelligence)
(8) aspect of the universal (omniexsistancial) causality (intuitive intelligence).
From the list one can conclude that the form of the existence which could not understand its own existance, could not be able to preserve it, and would instantaneosly cease to exist.
AI is a very very vast area including a huge number of sub-topics from machine learning to language processing, etc. Share your thoughts in more detail as to what you are looking for? What interests you in AI? and the like. It will help to get more useful inputs. There is nothing called 'priority' areas -- think enough about any topic you like, you can find some interesting and important problem in that area. My suggestion, personally, is to find some practically challenging problem to solve, and go after it. Let the techniques and topics follow!