In the Dune universe, the absence of artificial intelligence is a deliberate choice emerging from fear of human enslavement at the hands of other humans using machines to achieve domination. The prohibition originates from the Butlerian Jihad, an event that leads to the destruction of all “thinking machines” and which establishes a taboo against technology. Frank Herbert explores the consequences of a society without AI, highlighting the dangers of technological over-reliance and the potential inequalities that could come about as a result. His reflections anticipated modern debates on existential and social risks associated with AI.