That would be a non-harm scenario. So useful to consider but you don't need to plan for it. I would be surprised if an AGI had emotions and it seems that emotions are an essential element of nilhilism but I freely acknowledge my depth of philosophy understanding is poor.

> Why is the AGI interested in copying itself? Why is that more likely than the AGI becoming a nihilist, seeing no point in itself, and offing itself?

Because suicidal nihilism would be a "bug" from the perspective of the builders, which they would seek to fix in the next iteration.

An interest in "copying itself" seems like it could fall out accidentally from a self-improvement goal.