Klara and the other AFs have a rapport with one another. What do these conversations, thoughts, and feelings suggest about the sophistication of the AI technology, and about the unknown depths of the AFs' consciousness?

Before Klara goes home with Josie, Klara and the other AFs have a rapport with one another, especially with Rosa. What do these conversations, thoughts, and feelings suggest about the sophistication of the AI technology in the novel, or about the unknown depths of the AFs' consciousness?

These interactions were interesting to me. I can't imagine they were programmed to befriend each other, and yet they did seem to have a rapport. They also seemed to exhibit a little classism (e.g., when the new models arrived at the store) and empathy for each other (as when Klara observed an AI dejectedly following behind his owner, who clearly didn't want him). Since these reactions weren't programmed in, you'd have to think the AIs were evolving, developing them on their own.

I'm also curious as to how Klara became exceptional. Assuming AIs are produced en masse, and that their programming didn't vary, how did she develop into a more observant version on her own?

The AIs were made to interpret human emotion to be pleasing to humans maybe they could hone those skills on each other. Or maybe they were like siblings in that they were made in same factory with the same program and could bond that way. And like human children they were programmed to learn from their experiences. For example, they all knew the marketing strategy in the store which they wouldn’t have known on arrival.

Klara seemed to have a strong preference for like Josie immediately which echoes human "love at first sight." But how would that be programmed? Klara's observations of human behavior were often dead on and yet her belief in the sun was childlike.

Both - plus the devotion of Klara after she'd been discarded - struck me as dog-like. And dogs have connections and loyalty if not feelings.