It could make this precommitment before before learning that it was the oldest on its planet. Even if it did [not] actually make this precommitment, a well-programmed AI should abide by any precommitments it would have made if it had thought of them;

What implications do you draw from this? I can see how it might have a practical meaning if the AI considers a restricted set of minds that might have existed. But if it involves a promise to preserve every mind that could exist if the AI does nothing, I don't see how the algorithm can get a positive expected value for any action at all. Seems like any action would reduce the chance of some mind existing.

(I assume here that some kinds of paperclip-maximizers could have important differences based on who made them and when. Oh, and of course I'm having the AI look at probabilities for a single timeline or ignore MWI entirely. I don't know how else to do it without knowing what sort of timelines can really exist.)