What does Super Intelligence actually mean?
The same phrase now appears in two different conversations: government terminology and frontier capabilities. Keeping those meanings separate makes the news much easier to read.
1. SI as government terminology
The September 29, 2026 executive order directs executive agencies to use “Super Intelligence” in specified communications and non-statutory documents, where the law permits. Its interim definition refers back to the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence. This is a change in language and policy, rather than a measurement of a system’s capabilities.
2. Superintelligence as a technical idea
In frontier AI discussion, superintelligence usually describes systems whose capabilities substantially exceed human performance across a broad range of tasks. There is no single universal test that settles the definition. We use ASI when discussing this technical idea, and identify whose definition or evidence a claim relies on.
Example: OpenAI’s explanation of the research challenge
A policy statement, model announcement or investment pledge should be read on its own evidence. We do not infer that ASI exists merely because a document says SI.
What to watch next
- Policy implementation: agency guidance, procurement, legislation and enforceable requirements.
- Compute and energy: delivered capacity, grid connections and operational data centers.
- Capabilities and evaluation: independent measurements, limitations and reproducible results.
- Safety and accountability: oversight, incident reporting and published evidence.