(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hayoung Kwon = ‘Super Intelligence (SI)’ instead of ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI)’.
An untimely 'terminology war' is taking place in the United States as U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order to use the term SI instead of AI in the federal government's official documents and external communications.
Although it did not immediately change the existing legal definition of AI, it is interpreted that the U.S. administration responded to the negative public opinion surrounding AI by redefining the name of the technology while sending a message that it would not slow down the pace of development in technology competition with China.
◇ From ‘AI’ to ‘SI’… Why the US administration changed the terminology
SI was originally used in the AI industry as a technical concept to refer to advanced AI that implements a level of intelligence that exceeds human capabilities and can improve performance on its own without human intervention.
However, as President Trump brought it into the official vocabulary of the U.S. government, SI began to be used in a scope different from existing technical concepts.
In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on the 22nd of last month (local time), President Trump said, “The United States completely rejects international tactics to control AI.”
At the same time, he argued that “super” more accurately shows the essence of technology than the expression “artificial,” and that “the word artificial has a fake feel to it.”
Then, on the 29th of the same month, he signed an executive order titled ‘Opening of the era of super intelligence.’
Accordingly, federal ministries and agencies will now use ‘super intelligence’ and ‘SI’ instead of ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘AI’ in official letters, external communications, websites, reports, policy documents, etc. to the extent permitted by law.
However, this measure does not immediately change the definition of AI itself under U.S. law.
The executive order defines SI as technologies and systems that fall within the existing definition of AI stipulated in the U.S. Federal Code, and directed the President's Science and Technology Advisor to submit legislation containing a new definition of SI at the federal level within 60 days.
◇ ‘Change the name’ amid growing resistance to AI… Public opinion is confused
The background to the change in terminology is the negative perception surrounding AI in the United States and the administration's strategy to maintain an edge in technology competition.
As concerns grow about rising power prices and job losses due to the spread of AI data centers, public opinion is also emerging that the pace of technological development itself needs to be adjusted.
In a Quinnipiac University poll released on the 30th of last month, 86% of respondents supported establishing independent safety standards even if AI development was delayed.
In the same survey, 72% responded that they were opposed to AI data centers being built in their area.
President Trump's statement that the word 'artificial' has "a fake feel" can also be interpreted as an attempt to remove the negative image attached to AI.
They are trying to change the perception of technology by putting SI, which has a more progressive image, at the forefront instead of the existing name AI.
President Trump's message goes in the opposite direction of his theory of controlling the pace of technological development.
In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, he emphasized, "The United States is ahead of everyone, including China, and will continue to maintain this advantage," and added, "Whoever wins SI will be the winner."
They clearly stated that they would maintain America's technological advantage and stay ahead of the development race while keeping a distance from international regulatory movements to control AI development.
The controversy surrounding the executive order goes beyond a simple name change.
Some in the industry point out that simply changing the name cannot reduce the risks that advanced AI can cause when the actual technology or risk factors do not change.
In particular, as discussions continue about the need to slow down AI development or strengthen safety standards, this measure can be taken as a signal that the United States will place emphasis on securing technological superiority rather than regulation.
There are voices in academia concerned about the confusion that the term itself may cause.
'Super intelligence' has already been used as a technical concept referring to advanced intelligence that broadly exceeds human capabilities, but if the U.S. government begins to refer to all current AI technologies as SI, the two meanings may become confused.
On the other hand, the US administration's position is that the technology currently being developed has advanced to the point where it is difficult to explain with the expression 'artificial' intelligence.
The administration explains that the name SI is intended to emphasize the new opportunities and potential that technology will bring, and to demonstrate the policy direction of accelerating industrial development and technology development at the national level.
◇ ‘SI²’ also appeared in Korea… Same abbreviation, different context
Similar terms have appeared in Korea as discussions surrounding the speed of AI development continue.
Kim Seong-hoon, CEO of Upstage, mentioned the concept of 'SI²' while emphasizing the need for rapid technological catch-up at a recent National AI Strategy Committee event.
He said, "AI is moving beyond Super Intelligence (SI) and is moving into the era of self-evolving AI (Self-Improving Super Intelligence (SI²))," and warned that controlling the domestic pace could solidify the technological gap with global big tech and deepen dependence.
Both terms have in common that they emerged amid ongoing discussions surrounding the advancement of AI technology and control of development speed. However, while SI in the United States is a political and policy debate surrounding the government's official term to replace existing AI, SI² is different in that it is a technological strategy concept presented by the domestic AI industry.
