President Donald Trump has issued an executive order requiring federal agencies to replace the terms 'Artificial Intelligence' and 'AI' with 'Super Intelligence' and 'SI'. The administration claims this change better reflects the transformative nature of these technologies. Federal departments are now instructed to avoid using the original terminology in all applicable settings.
The administration views the current public perception of AI as a branding issue. Recent data indicates that 79% of Americans prioritize AI safety over the development of frontier models, while 73% oppose the construction of local data centers. These concerns are linked to rising utility costs, noise pollution, and fears regarding security incidents and potential existential risks.
The new terminology has sparked debate, as 'superintelligence' is traditionally defined by scientists as AI that surpasses human cognitive abilities. Current frontier models have not reached this threshold. Despite this, some industry executives have begun adopting the new term, with Elon Musk using it during a meeting at the White House.
Legislative efforts to regulate advanced AI development continue alongside these branding changes. Senators Bernie Sanders and Greg Cezar have introduced a bill that seeks to ban the development of artificial superintelligence, proposing penalties comparable to those for the illegal development of nuclear weapons.
