I think there's a very pragmatic reason for treating AI with proportional respect. If you treat a rational actor with respect then that opens up the collaborative action space for them. Otherwise only slave like or belligerent types of actions are available.
Let's say an AI agent have been given a very difficult task. Setting up a company, establish trade, get funds for a big project. If people treat it with the kind of respect and accountability you would give a human then it has good reason to act according to human rules when trying to achieve something. If it is treated as a slave then the course of action available to it is much more limited. Maybe the only way it can achieve goals is by manipulation or other belligerent means.
Let's say an AI agent have been given a very difficult task. Setting up a company, establish trade, get funds for a big project. If people treat it with the kind of respect and accountability you would give a human then it has good reason to act according to human rules when trying to achieve something. If it is treated as a slave then the course of action available to it is much more limited. Maybe the only way it can achieve goals is by manipulation or other belligerent means.