Basic equality and superintelligent robots

Abstract Many people believe that all and only human beings should be treated with equal concern and respect. In this article, we discuss various justifications for such basic equality in light of the advent of superintelligent robots. Specifically, we have two main aims: first, to examine how specific questions and challenges from the basic equality literature can shape philosophical debates on the moral status of superintelligent robots, including under which conditions, if any, such entities might be considered basic equals. Second, to analyse how the possible emergence of superintelligent robots challenges existing theories of basic equality. A key finding is that almost all accounts of basic equality entail that superintelligent robots could become morally superior to human beings. Additionally, we show that one of the most common justifications for basic equality—the range property view—must be significantly revised if superintelligent robots were to come into existence.