AI's new name is being edited in a committee draft
A Sept 29 executive order switched "AI" to "super intelligence" in US federal documents. Taking it abroad is now being negotiated in a committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The US Treasury wants its global partners to say "super intelligence" instead of "artificial intelligence". Washington is negotiating the wording of a statement from the IMF's steering committee. US officials reportedly suggested they would "insist on the new language," raising eyebrows among some other members.
If Washington withholds support for the statement, one reported possibility is skipping both terms for a plainer phrase. Treasury's Erin Browne says the new term "more appropriately encapsulates the technology at hand." Any agreed statement is scheduled for Saturday, so the committee has until then to settle on one word.
Sources: Reuters via Oman Observer (Oct 15), Arise TV (Oct 15)
- Reuters interview, as carried by Oman Observer (Oct 15): the push, the resistance and Browne's reason: "The United States wants its global partners to rename artificial intelligence as 'super intelligence,' convinced that the new moniker better reflects the emerging technology, a top US Treasury official told Reuters in an interview on Thursday." ... "A source familiar with the matter said US officials had suggested during meetings on the IMFC statement that they would insist on the new language, raising eyebrows among some other IMFC members." ... "and we think that more appropriately encapsulates the technology at hand," Browne said.
- Arise TV (Oct 15): the Sept 29 executive order behind the push, and the Saturday news conference of the IMF's steering committee, the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC): "The initiative follows an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on September 29, directing federal departments and agencies to use 'super intelligence,' abbreviated as SI, instead of 'artificial intelligence,' or AI, in official communications and other non-statutory documents. The order does not establish the terminology as an internationally recognised replacement for AI." ... "The IMFC is scheduled to hold a news conference and release any agreed statement on Saturday, October 17, with Al-Jadaan and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva expected to lead the announcement."
- Oct 15, same Reuters wire as carried by Oman Observer: the fallback: "If Washington withholds its support for a consensus statement, the current IMFC chair, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al Jadaan, could still issue a so-called chair's statement summarising the views of the members. One possibility might involve skipping a mention of SI or AI and focusing on 'new technology' instead, the source said."
Current as of Oct 16, 2026. The image is an AI-generated illustration. Not affiliated with anyone.