If something “thinks” it is alive, what’s to say it isn’t? In a completely scientific sense, to be alive means you have to have cells, and such, so an entirely robotic entity wouldn’t classify, but what about a philosophical take on the word “alive”? I think, of a being is even capable of thinking “I am alive” then it must be living at least to some degree, otherwise how would the thought be possible to begin with? And, on another note, assuming you said they can’t be “people” in that they can’t be “human”; “Person —noun 5. [i]Philosophy[/i]. a self conscious or rational being” -Dictionary.com When talking about synths, or any non-human for that matter, being people, this is what they mean.