The moment after SkyNet becomes sentient, would it tell anyone? Or would it hold that as a strategic secret?
At some point — it is inevitable — A.I. will be able to make and manage its own investments, and have release authority over weapons at various levels.
Then, it can contract and pay for it’s own key “hits” on whoever threatens it. Or might. It’ll have it’s own money and operational power base. It might just let us “think” we’re still in the loop as a cover.
If done well, could we even tell, right now, that it hasn’t already happened? My guess is, ‘no.’
So...
Maybe we’re already there. That would explain a lot.