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> But if you imagine a sci-fi world where machines can build and do everything humans can do, the concept of a human-centric economy would be pointless.

In Iain Banks' The Culture novels, the machines provide the How, humans provide the Why.

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I mean, there is a read of the culture that is pretty dystopian. If Minds are able to, essentially, predict the future, what is the purpose of the humans, other than as a sort of abstract pet acting out the Minds' great plans.

Something something Bora Horza Gobuchul was right all along.

No, that's a read from people who equate suffering and toiling with meaning. The Culture is a true utopia, Iain says it explicitly.

Minds keep humans as pets.

I can see why you might think that - but people and machines and groups are free to leave if they want - at least one of the Culture stories is based on this: e.g. "A Gift from the Culture".

Free-to-roam pets are still pets. The Minds are benevolent dictators, and generally seek not to be seen as such by humans.

What would the Minds do if all humans wanted to leave?

Probably sublime... who knows!

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