AI Narratives for an Ethical Relationship with Superintelligence

AI narratives come in three forms: scientific, poetic or humanistic, and science-fictional. Scientific narratives talk about artificial intelligence (AI) in cognitive, neuro- and computer science or engineering terms. Poetic narratives are rooted in literature and philosophy. Science fiction uses drama and plot to explore contests between good and evil AI futures. The three narratives raise the possibility of an artificial superintelligence and point toward a need to consider ideas for an ethical relationship between humanity and superintelligent AI. Scientific narratives deal mostly with issues of technical or practical existence. Humanistic and science fiction imaginative narratives shift the focus toward bigger ethical concerns about human survival. All three postulate the potential future existence of superintelligence, with which human beings will need to develop some kind of contract.