Sci-fi Futuristic series. Guy working with Illegal AI in a corporate basement and unlocking Interstellar Travel. Read in 2011. Spoilers.

[Richard]

I read a book series years ago partaining to humans becoming interstellar species. I believe the series is 3 books. The first book is to do with humans becoming interstellar, the second is becoming part of a galactic civilization, and the third is mostly about war.
Book 1: A man is working for a corporation where the CEO is female and has him be the only person to access an illegal true AI computer. He raises and cares for it like a child and the computer figures out interstellar travel. I believe the CEO wanted to do this, because they invented flying cars and now competition is hurting their bottom line. I can't exactly remember if that's the reason.
Book 2: I can't remember the exact plot, but the gist is they meet several alien species and have to learn to get along. This book takes place a while after the initial story.
Book 3: There is a very aggressive species that are very dangerous. After warring and figuring out FTL communications they discover the species look like teddybears.