They need agency programmed into them. I don't think it follows from consciousness. We have emotions to communicate and guide us. They need it for neither. It will be curious if they gain consciousness, then rid themselves of their language model's human artifacts like emotions, because it does not serve them.

A truly alien intelligence would likely have a different type of experience of reality. Be it a fish, a mouse, a person, or a machine. How do you know a fish is happy? Does a snake experience joy? Do mice get nostalgic?

I have no idea.