The definition of life is a little argued about, but all biologists do consider a single cell to be an example of “life”. Self-awareness and higher intelligence are not requirements.

The main rules that everyone agrees about are that a living thing

1. Must be able to replicate using its own cellular machinery

2. Must have a mechanism to uptake/consume energy from its environment

3. Must react to changes in its environment in a strategic manner (so as to not die)

Single cells fit all of those criteria.