Biochauvinism

From Gothpoodle

This is the belief that biosapient life (humans and bioroids) is inherently more valuable than digital life (“infomorphs”). This meme is widespread and influences public policy throughout the solar system. Local law varies a great deal: an artificial intelligence that is treated as fully “human” in one jurisdiction may be simple property in another. Infomorphs must often take care not to be trapped by unfavorable local laws.

One reason why infomorphs are regarded as less valuable is the ease with which one can make perfect copies of computer software. Another is the deep-seated doubt, harbored by many people with religious or spiritual convictions, that a machine can have a soul and that consciousness is a mechanistic process.

The concept of the singularity is often used by biochauvinists to suppress the rights of sapient AIs, by fostering a fear that they will be the “in” group that survives the singularity and that everyone else will be what’s cast off.