then it would be better to use an example not directly aimed against “our atoms”
All the atoms are getting repurposed at once, no special focus on those in our bodies (but there is in the story, to get the reader to empathise). Maybe I could’ve included more description of non-alive things getting destroyed.
mucking with quantum gravity too recklessly, or smth in that spirit
I’m trying to focus on plausible science/tech here.
they need to do experiments in forming hybrid consciousness with humans to crack the mystery of human subjectivity, to experience that first-hand for themselves, and to decide whether that is of any value to them based on the first-hand empirical material (losing that option without looking is a huge loss)
Interesting. But even if they do find something valuable in doing that, there’s not much to keep the vast majority of humans around. And as you say, they could just end up as “scans”, with very few being run as oracles.
Ok, but I think that still basically leads to the end result of all humans (and biological life) dead.
It seems odd to think that it’s more likely such a discovery would lead to the AI disappearing into it’s own universe (like in Egan’s Crystal Nights), than just obliterating our Solar System with it’s new found powers. Nothing analogous has happened in the history of human science and tech development (we have only become more destructive of other species and their habitats).