Hmm, yes like a mutoid. Except that machine wants knowledge instead of blood.
I could even see why he'd call Zen or Orac just a machine to try and make himself be above a mere machine.

And like Zen or Orac, this machine might protect itself because it is valuable.
A story like this might make Servalan look stupid when she said, I thought you were the one who conquered emotion.
He might think: No, your people did that to me.

Nicely done Kal. Made me shudder!

Our poor lad.