Trump’s Executive Order Rebrands AI as ‘Super Intelligence’
In a significant change in terminology, President Donald Trump has enacted a new executive order mandating that the United States government refer to artificial intelligence as “Super Intelligence.” Announced on Tuesday, this initiative aims to eliminate the use of “artificial intelligence” or “AI” in official settings, with all related government documents, websites, and communications now adopting the term “Super Intelligence.”
During the unveiling of the America.gov platform, Trump emphasised the appeal of the word “super,” calling it simple and the best. He noted that the renaming was also approved by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his recent visit to the White House. Trump downplayed concerns related to AI, stating that while the technology is powerful and brilliant, it would predominantly be applied for beneficial purposes, with efforts to mitigate its negative uses. He expressed a dislike for the term “artificial,” likening it to “fake news.”
The executive order follows Trump’s address to the United Nations General Assembly, where he introduced the idea amidst discussions on the swift progression of AI and its potential risks. Although past regulations and documents will remain unchanged, this decision marks a unique shift in the administration’s approach to AI terminology.
Before signing the order, Trump hosted a luncheon at the White House with tech industry leaders, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, to discuss “Super Intelligence.” The event was reported as productive and amicable. Trump highlighted the expectation for tech companies to self-regulate, underscoring that federal oversight from entities like the Department of Justice and FBI is already in place. On local levels, he assured that the development of data centres, crucial for tech operations, would be managed to benefit local communities through additional resources and economic assistance.
Trump expressed optimism for the popularity of data centres, driven by this new initiative and the anticipated cooperation between tech firms and local governments.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theverge.com.