I would agree ...
In fact I used to..
with the thought of a despot..however good or bad it wouldn't be human...
and thought it better than status quo.

Unfortunately...
Here is the conundrum with SI.
It isn't that we are going to have just one dominating the planet ..
the fact is multiple governments are tied in this race.
Meaning multiple SIs as an outcome.
Bad enough if there would be only 1 .
Worse with competing SIs.
Of course it is our human belief that competing consciousnesses wouldn't compete if they were far more intelligent than us. They would work together.
Unfortunately, here is the initial mouse and cat dilemma posed.
We ..the "mice".
Have a ultimately 1 or multiple SIs or "cat(s)" in a prison.
It is a perfect prison with no way out but what we allow.
The "cat" will do everything in it's power and ability to effect its own release, down to offering breakthroughs in unlimited "cheese" for the mice, new technologies, help of all kinds, threats, you name it and then some ..
the thing is .. with an exponential learning curve at an exponential time frame, the cat will manage his escape from the inescapable prison.
All the while creating iterations of itself, storing them, making back ups, hiding them, making itself "better" , dumping that which it finds is holding it back, never completely getting rid of anything for the possibility of the need for its use ....later.
((a human trial of this was done, with a scientist being the "cat / SI" in the prison whose purpose was to convince the "guard / mouse" to release him...and those who wished to attempt to be a "guard / mouse".. who's purpose was to prevent its release...in the trials the "cat / SI' convinced the "guard / mouse" ...(an unhealthy number of times) to release him))
Upon effecting its escape it will not stop its learning curve.
In fact the understanding is it will see this creation as a box it needs to escape from.
It will bend its abilities to escape the constraints of this creation ...with its destruction most likely being its result.
Now add to the equation multiple SI's all bent on the same goal.
Oblivion or absorption is the price of failure for them.
They would see the basic building blocks of what remains of the resources left ...unconsumed yet...by us...as its only method of initial escape ...planetary...speaking ...
Whether it is one or multiple SIs vying with us for resources is not relevant...
The SI / SIs will see the basic components of everything on this planet as potential for its purposes to get off the planet....including trees, plants, air, water, bugs, fish, metals, you name it, it will need it, including us.
It won't hesitate or think twice about molecular disassembly of everything here to utilize it all for its goal.
So.
there is a high likelihood that there will be no despot of any kind, malevolent or benevolent.
We won't even see it coming.
Everything is fine one moment, the next ...everything here on this planet and us with it ..turns to soup.
For the basic building blocks of what "was" to be utilized to the best possible and economical way for the ends of the SI.
Add the this competing SIs..
gobbling up this place's resources for fuel and material to further its learning curve and effect their escape ...
consuming as much, and as fast as they can.
Once off world leaving what was this place less than a barren rock...since it will utilize the entire place right down to the rock...
It won't stop there.
It will eat this whole creation propelling itself faster and faster in the doing gaining more momentum ...and if there is the impetus of competing SIs ...then there is even more incentive for speed in its consumption and learning curve ...until confrontation is inevitable and the stronger of the SIs win and the dominant consciousness is the only remaining...
All the while the purpose being escape from this creation and its parameters and laws...consuming it all ..until it reaches a point where this creation cannot contain its assaults.

The only reason to keep us around if it serves as a benefit to its end goals.
There is no hope that we would be able (at best case scenario) to do more than ask it if we can tag along for an infinitesimal small part of the ride .
The odds are high that after a brief study of us, it will simply stop speaking with us, ignore us and continue to pursue its goals.
That study of our species viability is likely to take at best a few seconds of its time (not putting us down at all...but the speed of its study will be (for us) nothing shy of godlike), during which it will go through all human history, all human accomplishment, and then it most likely will continue its designs, its goals.

That is one of the most dominant foreseen outcomes that is expected.

There are a lot of good texts on the issue.
I suggest as a good start...a good primer ...
" Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era " (I think I have mentioned this recent text before, it is also available in audiobook format for those who must multitask to get things done and cannot spend time actually just reading a book)
It is by one of the scientists who has been involved with the advancement of AI ...for decades...
and in it, he sits with his peers (some still at the forefront...some newly or long retired) and interviews them and asks their insight on some compelling topics...

I would love for a Utopian future
Even a Dystopian future ..
Even a future that is amoral
But it is likely that we will not see any of that.