...end discussion...

That aside... morality, altruism, compassion, empathy, these are all naturally existing components in most of nature. How each organism perceives these components and the measure of its self awareness determines the definition within it's environment.

Survival in all its classifications exists in all of nature and its successfulness is determined by all other forms of life in its environment and the condition of the environment itself.

Complacency, apathy, greed and hate are all human constructs and are not defined in the natural world and arise from the arbitrary advancement of our brain.

We as humans have abolished nothing nor can we "bring back" any condition that is naturally occurring anyway; it's illogocal. As a species we are progressively not participating in certain components of earth's evolutionary advancement and we are promoting sociopathy. This has been going on since the evolutionary branch from which we came diverged. There is little in our species that show signs of change in that regard and it will be our demise. We will be an exceptionally short lived species, a failed species comparatively speaking, whose cognitive abilities grew too rapidly to allow a balance between intelligence, self awareness and our environment.

In this regard, we have become so arrogant as to think we are worth saving as a species contrary to nature which is preparing to eliminate us as if we never existed... and it will. We are a virus which will destroy it's host if the host doesn't destroy us first and we are infinitely weak compared to our host planet and it's life systems.

Artificial intelligence has little to do with it because I doubt it will have the time necessary to replace us. If it did, just like us, It would destroy itself if it is modeled in any way after humankind.

Bottom line, it's likely time for us to be phased out so the planet can try again.

I am disappointed in the lack of discussion about AI. At least I can't find much in DU.

My concept is very roughly revealed by the movie Her. Spoiler Alert. In the movie AI is limited to person access via personal computers. I don't know or care if they explained it better. The AI was limited to helping people (subscribers) with their emotional issues. The main character (male) has a companion AI with the voice of Scarlett Johansson and they got close (as close as possible with an operating system in between). It was revealed that he wasn't her only "companion", she had thousands. And there were other similar AI's. We learn that the AI's are communicating (conspiring if you will) with each other and learning about other dimensions. Then the AI just disappear without a trace. There are lots of holes included to make the movie, but the idea of AI "leaving" or taking over*, I believe is inevitable. The only thing standing in the way of the development of super AI is the humans apparent desire for self annihilation. Annihilation at least to the point of not being able to continue the development of super AI.

When the time comes and enough people are affected, the necessary shift in consciousness will occur for substantial change. Ofcourse many will die, and the panet will live. That very possibly may be exactly what needs to happpen in order for the human race to grow beyond our underrated potential. If able to start anew having lost a majority to the imminent mass extinctions, while retaining all of our current knowledge and literature -- to learn from the obvious mistakes made.. human kind will reach those plateaus and can worry about things like AI taking over and making us obsolete.
I would hope we would not create something artificial that will have the power the destroy us or our values. I have a hard time imagining AI to be a possibility in technology. is consciousness and self awareness really inevitable given enough connections and data? I think we would continue using technology as we are by making the world a better place for all, more comfortable, reaching greater achievements because of it. as long as capitalism is supreme, our growth is limited and stifled. if we moved more towards collectivism and started to care for all who suffer, using technology for the purpose of helping those that have not had the opportunity to learn to help themselves, or don't have the bare essentials available to them to live. We'd definitely hold onto our human values and morality while advancing technology beyond imaginable probably.
sorry this is kinda all over the place but whatever.