The nascent field of material intelligence (MI) promises revolutionary adaptive and responsive physical functions that are inaccessible to the virtually-restricted digital artificial intelligence (AI). In this perspective paper, we explore the potential of MI for intelligent human-interactive functions; we focus on liquid crystal polymers (LCPs), which are uniquely ideal for both MI and human-interactive applications due to their adaptable stimuli-responsive properties and compliance, respectively. We preface our study by building a framework to categorize MI, underlining the need to modify psychology-based terms due to the disparate mechanisms for biological cognition and material intelligence. Based on our framework, we describe LCP mechanisms and compositing methods for actuation, material memory and learning and forgetting behavior, outlining the journey of an LCP from polymer to MI. We conclude our perspective with an overview of the potential applications for LCPs with MI, accompanied by our recommendations for researchers in the pursuit of futuristic applications; ultimately, we believe the field of MI will generate scientific and social impact that surpasses that of AI.