US Justice Dept tells staff to call AI 'super intelligence' under Trump order

On October 6, the US Justice Department issued a directive to its employees instructing them to refer to artificial intelligence as "super intelligence" in most cases, including within the court system, according to a memo obtained by Reuters. The move came after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order last week requesting the change within federal agencies, claiming it better captures the technology's potential.

DOJ staff are to use the terms "super intelligence" and "SI" in place of "AI" whenever legally permissible in public communications, policy documents, and official records, the memo states. The directive is also applicable to court filings when appropriate. The Justice Department's decision to adopt the term "super intelligence" is influenced by public perception issues surrounding artificial intelligence, which have worsened following recent hacking incidents that have raised concerns about safety.

While President Trump has been wary of new regulations for the technology, he has also stated that the Justice Department would take action if necessary to control its use.