Here are some links to get you started:

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/LAPa2jxoq3n63GzTr/some-ways-...

https://slatestarcodex.com/2015/04/07/no-physical-substrate-...

As for self-replicating robots--it's no more bizarre than other technological developments which were successfully anticipated in advance, e.g. moon landings.