If one is able to create the first super intelligent AI that has human interests at heart, then it seems plausible that it would be able to stop other AIs that are trying to reach the apex and who might not care about us. The irony is that we are then relying on super intelligent AI to protect us from other AIs trying to reach super intelligence.

I think what is and isn't interesting is in the eye of the beholder. We, as humans, probably consider that the most interesting thing. But perhaps very different lifeforms find coral reefs, or ants, or plant-life, much more interesting than humans.

I find it a little self-centred that we would be -without a doubt- the most interesting thing within several light-years.