In a significant shift in terminology and policy, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing all official U.S. representatives to refer to artificial intelligence as “super intelligence.” This announcement was made during a high-profile gathering of major technology executives earlier this week, marking a pivot from previous rhetoric that dismissed AI safety concerns as obstacles to technological leadership.
The event featured the signing of the “Joint Commitment on Frontier Responsibilities,” a voluntary agreement among AI industry leaders. However, the pact has drawn widespread skepticism due to its lack of legal enforceability. Notably, the document contained a typo, misspelling the United States. President Trump characterized the commitment as “morally binding,” a distinction that experts and reporters on the TechCrunch Equity podcast found puzzling given its non-binding nature.
The gathering followed a rapid diplomatic thaw between the White House and Anthropic. Just days prior, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei attended a late-night dinner with Trump, after which the company appeared to be reintegrated into high-level tech circles. Attendees included prominent figures such as Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk. Despite this visible reconciliation, tensions remain within the administration; the Defense Department continues to view Anthropic as a national security risk, a stance highlighted by ongoing criticism from officials like Emil Michael.
Podcast hosts Kirsten Korosec, Sean O’Kane, and Anthony Ha suggested that the primary objective of the event was rebranding. The administration appears to be distancing the new terminology from the public fears associated with traditional AI, particularly regarding job displacement and existential risks. Korosec argued that the message was clear: while “AI” is perceived as scary and disruptive, “super intelligence” is not.
The swift organization of the summit contrasts sharply with Trump’s comments from just two weeks ago, where he argued against any constraints on AI development and dismissed safety advocates as political opponents. While the agreement itself may not lead to immediate regulatory changes, the sheer volume of stakeholders involved signals a strategic effort to normalize the technology under a new, more favorable identity.
A voluntary pact with a typo spelling out the US? This feels like performance art rather than actual policy.
Is it just me, or is calling it ‘super intelligence’ a blatant attempt to make something scary sound impressive?