‘Goodbye AI, Hello Super Intelligence’: Trump Declares Lead Over China In Global AI Race

Washington: US President Donald Trump has proposed a new name for artificial intelligence, “superintelligence” or “SI,” while declaring that the United States is already well ahead of China in the race to develop the technology.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump said US government documents would use the new terminology, arguing that “superintelligence” better captures the scale of what the technology could become.

“From this point forward, all of United States documents, and hopefully the world's, will be changed to use the much more accurate term ‘super’ as opposed to ‘artificial’,” Trump said. “In other words, welcome to the new world of superintelligence, SI. Let’s see if that goes. It sounds much better.”

His comments went beyond a change in terminology. Trump presented the development of advanced AI as a strategic contest, arguing that leadership in the technology could determine which country holds greater global influence.

“Whoever wins AI, you have to remember this...and now I say, whoever wins SI, whoever wins superintelligence, wins,” Trump said. 

Trump claimed that the US was currently “leading now over China by a lot” and said Washington would work to protect that advantage. “We’re going to keep it that way. We’re going to keep it very, very straight and very strong,” he said.

Trump Says AI Growth Must Not Be Stifled

Additionally, Trump stated unequivocally that he does not want worries about AI to impede its advancement. He maintained that the technology might have a significantly greater economic impact than previous technological innovations.

“I’m not going to stifle the growth of something that will be bigger than the Industrial Revolution,” he said. He added that the potential impact could extend even further.

“Many say bigger than the Industrial Revolution or the internet itself. And we will be very careful,” he said. In the past, Trump has pushed against more stringent AI regulations, especially when he thinks they could make the US less competitive with China. At the UN, he emphasized the necessity for the US to stay at the forefront of the industry and once again connected technological leadership with national power.

His most recent comments are part of a larger discussion about how governments should handle AI systems that are becoming more sophisticated. While Trump has emphasized ongoing progress, some in the tech sector have been advocating for increased oversight and more robust protections.

Trump also made clear that he does not want concerns around AI to slow its development. He argued that the technology could have an economic impact far beyond earlier technological breakthroughs.

Why The AI Safety Debate Is Getting Louder

In the past, Trump has called some concerns over AI a "hoax." He called opposition to AI and data centers a "SICK conspiracy" last week, claiming that too stringent regulations could eventually work in China's favor. Additionally, he dismissed concerns about AI "taking over the World" and "destroying Humanity" as a "HOAX" and claimed that his administration had already prevented AI businesses from doing "bad, or potentially bad" things.

During an onstage phone conversation with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at a Los Angeles event on September 14, Trump reiterated that stance.

“I also have common sense about AI,” Trump said during the call, adding that robots would not take over the US or the world. “The whole thing is a hoax,” he said, while also stressing that the industry should move carefully and prudently.

Additionally, Trump has supported the growth of data centers, which are an essential component of the infrastructure needed to run and train big AI models. He called on localities to embrace data centers on August 31, cautioning that those who oppose them risk becoming "backwards and poor." He concluded his article with the words “Let Data Reign.”

Trump's latest UN remarks put that competition squarely in geopolitical terms. By replacing “artificial intelligence” with “superintelligence” and repeatedly stressing the US lead over China, he presented the next phase of AI development as a contest in which technological leadership could translate into wider global power.