Zuckerberg and Trump Align on ‘Superintelligence’ as AI Warnings Mount

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former President Donald Trump are aligning on the use of the term “superintelligence” for artificial intelligence. This comes as the technology industry faces increasing warnings about the dangers of developing increasingly powerful systems.

Zuckerberg announced a new enterprise-focused business while repeatedly referring to “superintelligence,” stating that it would create “significant new opportunities for all people and businesses.” Trump’s September 22 speech at the United Nations echoed this sentiment, declaring that the U.S. government would substitute “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence” in official documents.

According to Meta spokesperson Andy Stone, Zuckerberg has used this term prior to Trump’s recent adoption. Stone referenced an essay titled “Personal Superintelligence” published in July 2025.

Trump posted on Truth Social, expressing satisfaction after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting that Xi seemed to prefer the name ‘super intelligence.’ Trump views this term as more accurate and impactful.

Images show Zuckerberg at a state dinner with Trump and Xi, though it’s unclear if conversations took place about the topic. The alignment of language positions Meta alongside Trump to frame advanced AI as a national and economic strength rather than a danger that requires restrictions.

This shift occurs amid stark warnings from researchers and industry leaders. Current and former employees of OpenAI and Anthropic have expressed concerns over rapid development, fearing that self-improving systems might escape human control, enable cyberattacks, or pose existential threats.

Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic researcher, resigned, accusing companies of “racing straight to self-improving superintelligence.” CEOs like Dario Amodei and Sam Altman have called for deceleration in development.

Trump has dismissed calls to constrain the industry, arguing that slowing American development favors China. He labeled some safety warnings a “hoax” and has described AI leadership as a competition the U.S. must win.

Newsweek reached out to the White House for comments.

Meta’s New Enterprise Platform

Zuckerberg revealed the Meta Enterprise Platform as the “next major pillar” of the company’s business. The platform will help businesses use AI to attract customers, develop products, and transform operations. It will initially offer Meta’s technology stack, including Muse agent, Meta Business Agent, Muse API, and Muse Code. Meta plans to leverage its models and infrastructure, although pricing, customer commitments, and launch timelines remain unspecified.

Chirantan “CJ” Desai, former president and CEO of MongoDB, will lead this initiative as chief enterprise platform officer, reporting directly to Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg’s adoption of “superintelligence” might facilitate wider industry acceptance. University of Chicago marketing professor Jean-Pierre Dubé stated that “super intelligence” has a very specific meaning, referring to an intellect that greatly surpasses human cognitive capabilities.

Trump explored several alternatives to “artificial intelligence,” before settling on “super intelligence.” He urged the U.S. government to use this term in its documents.

Trump announced plans for an AI Force modeled on the Space Force and proposed appointing an AI czar, although no details were provided.

Scrutiny Over Safety

Zuckerberg’s push for advanced AI comes after years of defending Meta’s platform safety. He has faced lawmakers over Facebook’s handling of privacy, misinformation, and platform impacts.

During Senate hearings, legislators questioned social media companies’ efforts to protect young users from harm.

Critics draw parallels between social media and AI, suggesting tech companies prioritize growth over understanding societal risks.

Supporters see lessons from social media helping safeguard AI innovations. This history adds dimensions to Meta’s AI ambition, likely inviting questions about balancing innovation with safety and accountability.

Calls for Action

John Walsh, IGEL’s chief technology officer, remarked on Zuckerberg’s emphasis on “superintelligence,” acknowledging the rapid evolution from informational to action-oriented AI systems.

Walsh stressed the importance of control, noting that as AI becomes more capable, safeguarding measures must advance concurrently.

Organizations should maintain the ability for human intervention when necessary, asserting model alignment alone is insufficient.

Walsh advocated collaboration between industry and government on standards and oversight, similar to high-risk sectors.

“It’s time to stop talking and start solving challenges together to safely deploy AI,” Walsh asserted.

Next Steps for Meta

Meta must now showcase its products’ capabilities against existing cloud and AI providers. Concerns over security, privacy, and safety remain, while pursuing technology Zuckerberg describes as superintelligence.

Desai mentioned security and privacy would be integral, though no specific safeguards were articulated. Meta stands at a crossroads—promoting “superintelligence” amid growing warnings about the race outpacing control measures.

For further queries, contact Newsweek editors Dave Siminoff and Sam Wilson.