From AI to ‘Superintelligence’: Trump makes bold declaration at UN

“The use of the word artificial makes intelligence fake,” Trump said. “It is not fake. It's actually amazing.”

Trump made the remarks while addressing the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, where he said technological leadership would play a central role in economic and geopolitical competition in the years ahead.

“Whoever wins superintelligence wins,” he declared, adding that the United States would encourage the development of the technology while monitoring potential risks.

Trump on Saturday announced plans to establish an “AI Force” and appoint an artificial intelligence “czar” as debate intensifies in the US over regulation and the pace of AI development.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the proposed AI Force would be modelled on the Space Force, which was established during his first term.

“I am forming the AI Force, much like I did Space Force, which has been a tremendous SUCCESS, in my First Term,” Trump wrote.

He also said an AI czar would be appointed in the future to oversee the initiative.

Trump said his administration would not seek to slow the growth of the AI industry, while arguing that existing criminal and civil justice mechanisms could be used to address wrongdoing.

“We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry,” Trump wrote. “Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!”

Trump described artificial intelligence as the next major technological transformation, comparing its potential impact with the Industrial Revolution and the internet. He also claimed that AI could eventually account for as much as 25% of US GDP, while stressing the importance of maintaining the country's lead over China in the technology.

The announcement comes amid an intensifying debate in the US over whether the rapid development of increasingly capable AI systems requires stronger safeguards.

Trump has repeatedly rejected calls for a significant slowdown in AI development. Earlier this month, he said the US was ahead of China in AI and argued that maintaining that advantage was strategically important.

“We’re leading China in AI. We’re the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly I want to keep it that way because whoever wins AI wins,” Trump told reporters.

He acknowledged that guardrails could be introduced but argued that concerns about the technology were being overstated.

“We could put guardrails. We can do this and that. But I think you have a lot of very negative forces that are bringing it up that shouldn’t be bringing it up and they’re bringing up things that won’t happen,” Trump said.

His comments followed calls from prominent AI executives for greater caution over the pace of development. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has argued that the industry should slow the advancement of AI capabilities to give safety measures time to keep pace. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI chief Elon Musk subsequently expressed support for aspects of Amodei’s call for greater caution.