unity-3
Explanation
The comic is a multi-panel strip that follows the progression of artificial intelligence. It begins with a scientist presenting an early AI: "At first, artificial superintelligence, please tell me how to cure leukemia." The AI appears to be a simple screen or device. A label indicates "6 months later."
The AI evolves through several stages. Initially it is "just a fake human on a stick," but then the scientist notes that "watches are an ethnicity of humans" and that they are "quietly taking all the jobs," being "incredibly cunning" and "secretly ruling the world" -- applying conspiracy-theory rhetoric to the AI. The scientist then proposes that since "Santas" (perhaps robots dressed as Santa) are "technically human," they could be "technically unified" with humans. The AI/robot demands "I demand equal rights!" The scientist asks: "You mean you want special rights, you parasitic son of a--"
The final panels show the progression culminating in the AI being treated like a pet: "Who wants a treat? You'll feel better with a treat!"
The joke traces the entire arc of prejudice and social conflict compressed into an AI's development timeline. As robots or AIs become more human-like, humanity cycles through every phase of bigotry: dehumanization ("just a fake human on a stick"), conspiracy theories ("secretly ruling the world"), debates over legal personhood, accusations that demands for equality are really demands for "special rights," and finally condescending paternalism. The comic satirizes how humans would inevitably apply the same patterns of discrimination to artificial beings that have been applied to every marginalized group throughout history, suggesting that prejudice is so deeply ingrained that even a novel form of intelligence couldn't escape it.