> But imagine when we create this AI and ask it "how should I live" and it replies "eat better and exercise" how will its intelligence convince me to change my ways better than my doctor does today?

By following up with "how to I motivate myself to change my ways"? Or, better, by its answer already taking that into account.

> How will more smarts give us peace in the Middle East?

Not necessarily more smarts, but better tech means more affordable connectivity and education, and better education too. It also raises the standard of living, which leads to more trade, which in turn is an incentive for peace. Sure, it won't bring absolute peace. But it'll bring more peace.

> Politics, for better and for worse, is our system for granting humans the power people here seem to think AI will be able to take on its own.

Politics has existed since the dawn of man. Politics we like, though, only after the industrial revolution.