The debate over rebranding AI as 'super intelligence'
US President Donald Trump has called for artificial intelligence to be renamed 'super intelligence' and launched a Super Intelligence Force. The column traces the term's history, including its use by philosopher Nick Bostrom and earlier distinctions between weak and strong AI. It argues that political branding and the technical idea of superintelligence have different meanings.
Trump’s push follows earlier terminology shifts. In 2014, philosopher Nick Bostrom helped popularize “superintelligence” through a book, while Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg later said such a capability was approaching. The article also notes John Searle’s 1980 distinction between weak and strong AI, which later evolved into narrow and general AI.
Current systems are often described as narrow AI: they can match human performance on particular tasks, from spam filtering to chess and driving. Once a task becomes routine for software, observers may stop calling it AI—an effect the article identifies. Bostrom’s superintelligence, by contrast, is portrayed as far beyond today’s systems.
The rebranding debate may shape public expectations and policy priorities around AI. Researchers, developers, and regulators could face pressure to adopt political language that blurs narrow tools with speculative superintelligence. This may affect funding, safety oversight, and international competition. Ordinary users might encounter inflated claims that make current systems seem more capable or autonomous than they are. Clear terminology could help public understanding, while vague branding may complicate accountability.