Could aliens be using AI before humans?

Possibly, yes — but we do not know.

If intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations exist, it is plausible that some could have developed AI before humans simply because the universe is much older than Earth and other worlds may have had more time to evolve technologically. Some scientists and futurists also argue that biological intelligence may be a brief stage and that advanced civilizations could eventually rely on artificial minds.

That said, this remains speculation. We have no confirmed evidence that aliens exist, and no empirical evidence that any extraterrestrial civilization uses AI. So the most accurate answer is: it could be true in principle, but we cannot verify it yet.