Rich :
Jason H. replied:
Article - Ben Bova: Is the search for intelligent extraterrestrial
life fruitless? - By Ben Bova (14 Dec. 2003)

BB Very likely, when SETI finally succeeds, we will meet intelligent machines.

Well, he is a SF writer. :^}

I believe the same view has been expressed by several SETI scientists
such as Steven Dick and Seth Shostak. (And also seems not unreasonable
to me too).
See e.g.
http://www.astrobiology.com/asc2002/...html?ascid=201