Trump orders federal government to replace ‘artificial intelligence’ with ‘superintelligence’

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order instructing the federal government to replace the term “artificial intelligence,” usually shortened to “AI,” with “superintelligence” or “SI” in the official communications of the executive branch.

The order directs federal departments and agencies to use the terms “super intelligence” and “SI” in official correspondence, public communications, policy documents and other non-statutory materials. Agencies are also instructed to stop using the terms “artificial intelligence” and “AI” in those materials.

The order instructs the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology to develop a proposed federal definition of “superintelligence” and “SI” that reflects the “continuously advancing technological frontier.”

The official is also tasked with identifying any additional executive action needed to implement the proposed definition.

The White House said the terminology change aims to recognise the “extraordinary opportunity” presented by emerging technologies.

According to the administration, the United States is the world leader in superintelligence and should use terminology that reflects the capabilities and potential of the technologies being developed. The administration described the U.S. as the birthplace of artificial intelligence and said the country has led the technology’s development and deployment for more than 70 years, since artificial intelligence became a field of research.