Well I don’t know about “super intelligent”, but modern corporations do seem remarkably like “unfriendly AI” (as defined in the Sequences). They have a very simplified utility function (shareholder value) and tend to maximize it at the expense of all rival human values. They are also very powerful and potential immortal.
The only open question is how intelligent they actually are. The naive answer is that any corporation is at least as intelligent as its most intelligent employee; but anyone who has actually worked for a modern corporation will know just how far from the truth this is. As stupid as their stupidest manager is maybe closer to the truth. So there’s some hope there.
I’m sure I’m not the first on LW to draw this parallel...
Upvoted because it is an interesting parallel, but this is unlikely to be an explanation of Quirrell’s actions. See Chapter 86:
Quirrell believes that he can cause or prevent the “end of the world” prophecy, and is gambling that helping Harry increases the chance of “prevent” rather than “cause”. A better chance was to dissuade Harry—that would increase the chance of “prevent” even more—but Quirrell’s just realized that he can’t do that.