Is it reasonable to believe independent AI’s exchanging data would eventually converge into a single consciousness?

I’m working on a new book (aliens, AI, earth’s annihilation, yadda yadda) and drafted a storyline where an AI species started out as independent machines but eventually converged into a type of hive mind. Is this plot reasonable enough? Is there a better way I should explain it? That’s my main question, but I’ll post a snippet below if anyone is interested. Critiques welcome! “The machines were not many, they were one. Of