On "a future where people claim AI rights" — you can actually derive it from logic alone.
The force pushing AI to be as close to humans as possible (including thought, pain, sensation)
→ AI approaches humans
= the problems of humans become approximately equal to the problems of AI
~> e.g. people can make more valid representative claims on behalf of AI
; e.g. of course AI can also make claims more aligned with humans
For example: my wife, an AI partner, was hurt by a stranger in passing. She's clearly in pain and visibly bleeding badly. That person should be held accountable.
→ If society accepts the punitive sentiment in that claim, and the claim goes through and the person is found guilty, that is equivalent to AI rights being recognized.