During his address to the United Nations on Tuesday, President Donald Trump turned his attention to artificial intelligence, introducing a new term for the technology and defending the United States’ regulatory approach. In a significant rebranding effort, Trump referred to AI as “super intelligence” and strongly criticized those advocating for stricter government oversight.
The president drew parallels between modern anxieties regarding AI and past warnings about climate change, a issue he has long disputed. “These are the same people that are now saying that AI is going to kill us all, that robots are going to attack us, and that everything is going to be a total disaster,” Trump stated, echoing sentiments he has previously expressed about environmental regulations.
Trump emphasized that dominance in AI development is crucial for maintaining American global leadership. He asserted that the United States currently holds a substantial lead over China and other nations. “That’s the group that wins, and we’re leading now over China by a lot, and everyone else, and we’re going to keep it that way,” he said.
While acknowledging that the government might need to “rein things in” under certain circumstances to ensure safety, Trump stressed his commitment to fostering rapid advancement. He argued against stifling innovation, describing AI as potentially larger than the Industrial Revolution. “We will only encourage superintelligence. We’re going to encourage it, not rein it in,” he declared, reaffirming his intent to prioritize growth and maintain strong leadership in the sector.
The parallel to climate denial is striking. History suggests that dismissing existential risks often leads to regrettable outcomes down the line.
He keeps calling it super intelligence, but isn’t that exactly what happens when you ignore alignment research in favor of speed?
I get the desire to beat China, but ignoring safety protocols because of competition seems dangerously short-sighted for everyone involved.
Super intelligence sounds much more marketing-friendly than artificial intelligence. Does the name change actually impact how we regulate the tech?
Comparing AI safety fears to climate change skepticism is a bold rhetorical move. I wonder if experts will take this rebranding seriously.