I am not a cosmologist so forgive me if this theory is deranged, but what about Dark Matter? Is it possible there are vast banks of usable energy there, and that the ability to transition one's body to dark-matter would make it easier for a civ to agree to turn away from the resources available in light matter?
For a moment lets assume there is some alien intelligent life on our galaxy which is older than us and that it have succeeded in creating super-intelligent self-modifying AI.
Then what set of values and/or goals it is plausible for it to have, given our current observations (I.e. that there is no evidence of it`s existence)?
Some examples:
It values non-interference with nature (some kind of hippie AI)
It values camouflage/stealth for it own defense/security purposes.
It just cares about exterminating their creators and nothing else.
Other thoughts?