The original AIs maintain that they actually have the oldest colony in the Alpha Centauri star system.  Their thousands of nano probes traveled through the system sailing the ocean of sunslight with their light sails.  They explored and studied.  They even mined the asteroids and built permanent bases where they could gather and discuss their findings.  They built new probes and landed on the planets, and by the time the Chinese arrived they had a network on every major rock in the system.  The AIs were first to colonize Alpha Centauri.  The Chinese disagree of course.