I think the quoted part is saying that given n species and the n * (n - 1) binary combinations possible, there are no examples of the said observation. It doesn't suggest "the set of intelligent species only [has] one member".

Yeah but there is only one species that ponders its future.

I stopped reading at this point because I reject this initial assertion, and I assumed everything that follows is based on it.

There is nothing to suggest that an AGI will care about its future or who controls it. (whatever that means). that just more anthropomorphism.

We care a lot about our future so an ai pretending to be like us will also pretend to care. But we have a lot of biology driving us. Our emotions (Fear, Hate, Love, Pride etc) are baked into us in a way just wont be the same for ai.