Full Breakdown
U.S. Treasury Urges Global Adoption of “Super Intelligence” Label for AI
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Push for Terminology Change
On October 15, Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs Erin Browne told Reuters that the United States is urging its global partners to replace the term “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence” (SI). The effort is being advanced in negotiations with other shareholders of the International Monetary Fund’s International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) as the group drafts a consensus statement on emerging technologies.
Background and Context
President Donald Trump, in a directive issued the previous month, instructed U.S. government agencies to use “super intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence” when referring to the technology. Browne said the administration views the new label as a more accurate description of the capabilities at stake and a priority for U.S. policy. The United States, holding the rotating G-20 presidency, is seeking to embed the term in the forthcoming IMFC statement, which is being prepared by the committee’s steering body, the International Monetary and Financial Committee.
Official Statements & Responses
Browne emphasized that the United States sees the terminology shift as a catalyst for “American growth and global growth.” She noted that negotiations are ongoing and declined to specify whether Washington would withhold its support for the statement if the language change were not adopted. A source familiar with the talks indicated that U.S. officials have suggested they would insist on the new terminology, prompting “raised eyebrows” among some IMFC members. The current IMFC chair, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, could still issue a chair’s statement that omits any reference to either term and instead references “new technology.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “President Trump has been really clear on this, and he's, you know, using the term SI, and I think it's a clear priority for the US to use that term, and we think that more appropriately encapsulates the technology at hand,” — International Affairs Erin Browne
- “We see this as a driving force behind American growth and global growth,” — International Affairs Erin Browne
What’s Next
The IMFC is scheduled to hold a news conference and release any agreed-upon statement on Saturday, led by Chair Al-Jadaan and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. If the United States maintains its stance, the final wording of the statement could reflect the “super intelligence” terminology or adopt a more neutral reference to emerging technologies.
