In late September, President Trump issued an executive order mandating a significant rebranding of artificial intelligence (AI) to ‘Super Intelligence’ (SI). This decision came after a poll on social media where alternative terms like ‘Extreme Intelligence’ and ‘Supreme Intelligence’ were considered. The shift in terminology is not just cosmetic; it reflects a broader trend in the Trump administration to reshape language in ways that signal new priorities and assert U.S. dominance across various domains.
The rationale behind this rebranding is that modern AI systems enhance human creativity rather than merely replicate intelligence. Yet, this shift may also serve as a political litmus test. The administration’s previous actions, such as barring the Associated Press from White House events for not adopting the term ‘Gulf of America,’ suggest that those who fail to embrace the new terminology may face backlash. With two-thirds of Americans reportedly engaging with AI multiple times a week, the impact of this rebranding is poised to extend beyond government, potentially influencing public discourse.
As the term ‘Super Intelligence’ begins to infiltrate government communications, initial reactions have been mixed. Some agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have rapidly adopted the new language in official documents. However, others like the Pentagon and the Federal Trade Commission have been slow to transition, continuing to use the old terminology in press releases. The executive order specifies that existing regulations and documents are exempt from this rebranding, indicating that the term ‘AI’ is likely to persist in various contexts. Meanwhile, tech leaders who signed the White House Accord on SI, including figures from Google and Meta, have shown varied adherence to the new branding, with some executives still favoring the traditional term in their public communications. This inconsistency raises questions about the broader implications of the rebranding on the national dialogue surrounding AI.
Source: Here’s who is falling in line for Trump’s “Super Intelligence” loyalty test via MIT Technology Review