The US Justice Department has directed employees to use ‘super intelligence’ instead of ‘artificial intelligence’ in most official references to the technology, including court filings when appropriate.
The instruction follows an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump that directs federal agencies to replace the terms ‘Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘AI’ with ‘Super Intelligence’ and ‘SI’.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter issued the Justice Department directive on Tuesday, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters. The memo tells DOJ employees to use ‘super intelligence’ and ‘SI’ in place of AI ‘to the maximum extent permitted by law’ in public communications, policy documents and other official records. The instruction also says the policy should extend to court filings when appropriate.
The change covers the department’s broader official communications. It reflects the terminology set out in Trump’s September 29 executive order. The order says federal agencies should use the new terms in official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents and other non-statutory documents. It also says existing regulations, contracts, grants and historical documents do not need to be changed.
Trump’s executive order says the term ‘Super Intelligence’ better represents the capabilities and potential of rapidly advancing AI systems. It directs the executive branch to adopt the terminology to the maximum extent allowed by law. The Justice Department directive comes as public concerns over AI safety have increased following hacking incidents and wider questions about the technology.
Trump has opposed new AI regulations while also indicating that the Justice Department could take action against the technology when necessary. The terminology shift applies across the federal government, making the Justice Department one of the agencies formally adopting the language in its day-to-day work.
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