That's exactly the way I would expect alien machines to work:
They are self-referential holographic cellular automata, modeled by folded multi-dimensional fractal bioanalogic nanocircuitry and quantum tunnel endoskeltal macrostructural elements. Together with cybernetic and field integration through hyperlanguage and entropically controlled energy flows, these devices are capable of both multiple and simultaneous operation, in parallel, series, matrix, and tensor modes.
You're damned right their technology is different.