Trump's 'Superintelligence' Rebrand: A Shift in AI Terminology and Public Perception

In late September, President Donald Trump declared at the United Nations that the term "artificial intelligence" was misleading, suggesting the word "artificial" implied the technology was "fake." He proposed "superintelligence," or "SI," as a more fitting designation. This sentiment was quickly formalized through an executive order, directing federal agencies to adopt "superintelligence" in their official communications. The Department of Justice has already mandated its staff to comply with this new terminology, and other government departments are expected to follow suit, particularly given the president's strong stance, reportedly branding those who continue to use "AI" as "THE ENEMY."

The tech industry has also begun to acknowledge and, in some cases, adopt this linguistic shift. Notably, on October 4, Elon Musk announced that his company, SpaceXAI, would be rebranded as SpaceXSI. This rebranding effort coincides with a period of rapid advancement in AI capabilities, particularly since the public release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in November 2022. These advancements are bringing the field closer to the concept of "superintelligence," a term already recognized within AI research circles to describe AI systems that can systematically and comprehensively outperform human cognitive abilities across a wide spectrum of tasks.

However, the strategic application of the "superintelligence" label is not without its critics. Some experts caution that applying this advanced designation to technologies that have not yet universally achieved such capabilities could be counterproductive. It might inadvertently foster a false sense of security or overconfidence among the public, leading to a misunderstanding of the technology's current limitations and potential risks. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, while acknowledging that "superintelligence" might be a "more accurate term" for the current trajectory of AI development, expressed skepticism that the new moniker would alleviate public apprehension, suggesting it might not be perceived as "less scary."

Further insights into public sentiment were provided by an exclusive survey conducted by market research firm Early Studies for Fast Company. This poll, which surveyed approximately 1,000 individuals in the United States and is described as a statistically representative sample of the population, revealed a cautious public reception to the rebrand. Only one in nine respondents anticipate the rebrand will have a positive impact on the U.S. Intriguingly, 53% of Americans surveyed indicated that they perceive people who use the term "AI" negatively, hinting at a broader societal unease or a lack of clear understanding surrounding the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its implications.