Elon Musk, the well-known entrepreneur and founder of SpaceX, announced on Sunday that the company's artificial intelligence unit, known as SpaceXAI, will change its name to SpaceXSI. The move comes in response to an executive order from United States President Donald Trumpdirecting federal agencies to avoid using the term "artificial intelligence" in favor of the term "superintelligence," or SI.
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Musk's announcement came via the X platform, after a user asked him if SpaceXAI could be renamed SpaceXSI. Musk responded in the affirmative, confirming that the change would happen. Earlier in the day, he had tweeted that there would be no more AI and that SI is better, describing SpaceX as a superintelligence company.
Despite confirming the change, Musk did not give a specific date for its implementation, and at the time of reporting, the SpaceXAI account on X was still using the old name. SpaceXAI did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment, and it has not been confirmed when the new name will take effect.
The renaming of SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI aligns with Trump’s executive order of September 29. The order directs executive branch agencies to refer to artificial intelligence as superintelligence, or SI, in official documents and to stop using the older terms. In addition, the order gives Trump’s science and technology adviser 60 days to propose a legal definition of superintelligence. Until then, SI covers the same technology that U.S. law already defines as AI.
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This decision has caused mixed reactions in the technology community. The name change from AI to SI may seem superficial, but it indicates a deeper change in the approach to this technology. Superintelligence, as its name suggests, refers to a level of intelligence that exceeds human comprehension, which can have significant implications for society and the economy.
On the same day the change was announced, Musk was one of six tech leaders to sign the White House Pact on Superintelligence. This voluntary commitment calls on companies developing cutting-edge models to establish internal controls and external audits. The move is intended to ensure accountability and transparency in the development and use of superintelligence.
The unit's name change to SpaceXSI will be the third this year. SpaceX acquired xAI in February, and the company adopted the SpaceXAI name and a new logo on July 6. The constant name changes indicate the company's rapid evolution and adaptation to new technological and political circumstances.
Musk's decision to align with Trump's executive order could have broader implications for the AI industry. Companies operating in the field may need to reexamine their strategies and adapt to new requirements and definitions resulting from political decisions.
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In conclusion, the renaming of SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI is not just a name change, but an indication of the direction that AI technology may take in the future. The emphasis on superintelligence suggests a shift towards more advanced and potentially more dangerous levels of technology, requiring increased caution and regulation. The coming months will show how this situation will develop and what the implications will be for companies and users worldwide.
