How can humans maintain control over AI — forever?

I wrote my first real artificial intelligence program on punched cards 45 years ago. Since then, I have worked mainly on improving the capabilities of AI systems. My goal, like that of the founders of the field, was to realize general-purpose AI — that is, AI systems that match or exceed human capabilities across the full range of tasks to which the human mind applies itself.

Like anyone even casually acquainted with science fiction, I have also been aware of the possibility that AI systems could threaten human supremacy. My textbook “Artificial...