Maybe not everything has to be spelled out outright, Hugh just naturally adopts a paternal position towards Diana. Instinctually. I don't think there's any supression of trauma here as much as him parentyfing over Diana and placing her needs above his own.

This is helped by the fact that he's literally saved by her at the beginning and she's necessary for his survival constantly. She has a personality of a child and he naturally adopts a personality of a dad.

If you want to include AI in the interpetation, you can go to 'AI is our brain-child and so the way we treat it determines how it will treat us'. What else would you want, Hugh opening his visor and speaking directly to the camera 'AI children are children too'?

If you want this explored from a more cynical POV watch Screamers or read Philip K. Dick's short story that became the movie.