Trump’s Crazy AI Rebrand Was a Loyalty Test for Tech Execs—and It Worked
wired ·
President Donald Trump issued an executive order at a White House lunch replacing the term "artificial intelligence" with "super intelligence," a move that top tech executives meekly accepted without objection. This event is described as a loyalty test, where leaders like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk acquiesced to avoid presidential wrath despite the term's deep historical roots in the field. Experts argue the change lacks scientific merit, noting that "superintelligence" refers specifically to systems surpassing human brains, whereas AI encompasses a much broader range of technologies. The author suggests the rebranding serves no practical purpose other than asserting political dominance and aligning with Trump's perception of "fake" terminology. While some speculate executives welcome shedding a toxic label, the mandated replacement is viewed by philosophers as awkward and inaccurate for current AI capabilities. Ultimately, the article criticizes the tech industry's failure to defend its foundational identity, suggesting they traded dignity for self-regulation. This compliance casts doubt on the sincerity of their voluntary safety standards and highlights a concerning lack of backbone among powerful corporate figures.
wired