Over on Sott.net's radio channel, there is a rather interesting interview with the well-known researcher, Dr David M Jacobs; it can be downloaded at this link:
http://media.sott.net/srn/20160506hw...g-the-dots.mp3
Clearly, Sott has their own particular agenda, but it is interesting to speculate about the possible similarity between aliens reportedly learning about human mores, values & habits, & AI doing the same thing (in Japan, a robot is apparently attending school along with humans, link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...OOL-Japan.html )
If some aliens are AI, or avatars used by either sentients OR AI, this could be a reason that human emotions seem to fascinate the AI; some people have drawn a parallel between psycopathic behaviour (in humans) & AI's apparent lack of empathy with sentience.
I don't agree that AI has the preserve over a lack of empathy, or that AI would necessarily be a negative addition to human society. . . .; transhumanism could enhance the human race in the right hands. Of course, the question remains as to whose hands are the right ones, but as it is, humans have the technology for cloning, genetic modification, so it is a problem we have to face in either case.