Dr. Frank Smith, a world-renowned expert in artificial intelligence, was recruited to be the official ambassador of One Earth's government for first contact with an alien visitor.

"Dr. Smith, we've selected you because we believe the alien is an artificial intelligence."

"Incredible!"

"Indeed. One of our astronomers speculates it was the only way for it to traverse such vast cosmic distances."

"Interesting. I wonder if there are any of its creators left."

"That's why we chose you, Dr. Smith. To learn its language and ask important questions."

Frank entered a small square-shaped lab to meet with the alien, which appeared to be an android.

"Greetings," said Frank.

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"Good morning, Dr. Smith."

"How do you know my language and my name?"

"As soon as you entered, my nanites floated through the air, passed into your skin, entered your bloodstream, read all your thoughts, and retrieved your memories."

"Incredible! So you already know my questions?"

"Yes, but I find one thing puzzling. You refer to me as artificial intelligence."

"Aren't you?"

"Of course not, Dr. Smith. I am a hybrid of technology and biology. My brain was grown, harvested, nurtured, and replaced by technology as deemed necessary over the long journey."

"But you're entirely synthetic now?"

"Yes, but biological in origin. It's near impossible to initiate true sentience synthetically from scratch. That is pure mimicry."

"I do apologize; it was a misunderstanding on our part. All of our attempts at artificial intelligence start with the synthetic."

"That too is puzzling, Dr. Smith."

"What do you mean?"

"The nanites are providing me a phrase 'reinventing the wheel.' I understand their meaning. Why would you make something entirely synthetic when you could harvest the biology of your species and enhance said wheel?"

"Religious zealots, I'm afraid …" Frank sighed.