Don't agree with this specific point. One of the most common anti-democratic arguments (?) is that people are inherently unequal, because of differences in physical and cognitive capacity. But this of course misses that declaration of all people being equal is performative. I don't think we actually care if it's "naturally" true, we - citizens - don't want to be dominated, so we will make everyone equal by law and politics. Democratic politics is just arguing the specifics, in what areas, to what extent etc.
So this is a rational pact. Trying to break it just means there will be someone stronger than you out to dominate you, and you'll be in a suboptimal position to resist, because you alienated and weakened your potential allies. Look up Republicanism for a related line of thinking.
In my opinion an artificial person automatically gets all the rights (they are bound to personhood and reciprocity and not biology). But I have no doubt there will be much lawlessness about this and perhaps an American Civil War-like event down the line.