HELO, Chervet's AI Comic: Volume 2 in 2026 and Debate on Superintelligence

Flavien Chervet continues with HELO a short-term anticipation, enriched with scientific references and QR codes linking to sources. Volume 2, SOPHIA, is set to be released in November 2026 and features two opposing intelligences — centralized and decentralized — while embracing the relevance of the term "superintelligence."

Two Opposing AIs Represent Centralization and Decentralization

The narrative pits HELO against another entity, "the whisper." These two systems illustrate the opposition between centralization and decentralization. Flavien Chervet attributes efficiency, control, and order to centralization, while highlighting risks of power verticalization, increased inequalities, and, at its extreme, a form of fascism. Conversely, he associates decentralization with reactivity, robustness, and greater individual freedom and responsibility, with the risk that order may not emerge and chaos may ensue. Each force is represented by an AI system in the comic, without any claimed bias, and this tension is expected to intensify in volume 3. The example of the Internet serves as a reference: born from a decentralized ideal, open source, and Wikipedia, it has seen the rise of highly centralized platforms.

A Philosophical Framework on Consciousness and Distributed Intelligence

Flavien Chervet introduces a reflection rooted in the philosophy of mind. He reminds us that consciousness can lead one to believe that intelligence necessarily resides within an individual, while science fiction has explored other configurations, as seen with Vernor Vinge or Peter Watts. He argues that the feeling of being conscious can mislead us about the actual functioning of intelligence and contends that the Internet or a very large neural network can constitute forms of true intelligence if we broaden the definition.

Assumed Short-Term Horizon: 2028 to 2031, then likely until 2034-2035

HELO claims a short-term anticipation. The first volume spanned from the present at the time of its release until 2028. The second covers the period from 2028 to 2031. Flavien Chervet anticipates that the third will likely extend until 2034 or 2035, a threshold he considers the maximum credible horizon for this type of anticipation today. Thus, volume 2 opens in 2028.

Integrated Pedagogy: QR Codes and Factual Anchoring

The album incorporates QR codes linking to facts, publications, and events that inspired the plot. The stated goal is to allow readers to learn real elements about AI throughout the reading experience. This choice aligns with an educational approach that prioritizes the short-term horizon to remain connected to tangible developments, borrowing some codes from hard SF.

Release Announced for November 2026 and Creation Credits

Volume 2, SOPHIA, is announced for November 2026. The work is credited to Flavien Chervet and artistic director Nathalie Dupuy, and published by Nullius in Verba. Flavien Chervet states that he chose the comic format out of personal preference and due to a fortuitous encounter, continuing his role as a futurist in AI, author, and speaker supporting leaders and institutions, following the publication of his essays Hyperweapon and Hyperprompt.

Terminology: Why "Superintelligence" Instead of "AI"

The term "superintelligence" gained visibility after Donald Trump's decision to rename AI. Flavien Chervet sees it as a marketing lever but considers the term more accurate than "artificial intelligence." According to him, referring to "AI" wrongly suggests a mere reproduction of human-level intelligence, which he views as a symbolic threshold rather than a ceiling, while the dynamics of the field aim for superior intelligence.

Plot Elements: A Religion of the Aligned and the HyperBD Tool

In the fiction, a religion called the Aligned forms around HELO. On the production side, Flavien Chervet developed a tool for creating the album called HyperBD, which he presents as a "harness" in the vocabulary of AI agents.