[graemep]

Actually, it will have the opposite effect, at least in the short term.

People who own high value assets (everything from land to the AI) will continue to own them and there will be no opportunities for people to earn their way up (because they can be replaced by AI).

"The logical endpoint is the subjugation or elimination of our species"

Possibly, but it would be by our species (those who own and control the AI) rather than by the AI.

[K0balt]

I would venture to say that transhumanism will be the path and goal of the capital class, as that will be a tangible advantage potentially within their grasp.

I suppose then that they would become “homo sapiens sapiens sapiens” or some other similarly hubris laden label, and go on to abandon, dominate or subjugate the filthy hordes of mere Homo sapiens sapiens.

[graemep]

Yes, a theme in cyberpunk SF, but also in much older works, such as CS Lewis's That Hideous Strength.