Randomness is associated with the universe...This is the modern scientific thought...Randomness and probability...
"There seems to be some growing evidence that matter itself might be an intelligent designer" what does this even mean?
The universe is random and random events do happen but matter also seems to have an innate ability to communicate information and make adjustments based on that information. We see it at the most basic level with quantam entanglement where a particle is split into two and continue to work in conjuction with each other no matter how far apart they may be. Physics might allow random particles to flow around and hit each other but within that, particles also have the fundamental ability to seek bonds with other particles. Look at the science of epigenetics for example. We're seeing that life experiences playing a huge part in genetic changes. That isn't just a random error in genetic coding that contributes to natural selection. There is an environmental influence
causing these genetic changes. Natural Selection presupposes that a random mutation happens first and if the environment is suitable for that mutation than it will thrive. I believe random genetic mutations have contributed to evolution but I also believe that evolutionary changes are caused by a fundamental ability within genetics to read external environments and make adjustments to those environmental changes.