It’s not AI anymore, it’s ‘super intelligence’ (according to the White House)

This week the White House convened a high-profile meeting of technology leaders to discuss AI safety and governance, drawing executives from major companies including Meta (Mark Zuckerberg), Amazon (Jeff Bezos), Tesla/SpaceX (Elon Musk) and Anthropic (Dario Amodei). Attendees signed an AI safety pledge that President Donald Trump described as "morally binding," underscoring the administration's push to set norms around the development and deployment of advanced AI systems.

Alongside the convening, the president signed an executive order that changes official terminology by referring to artificial intelligence as "super intelligence." The move reflects an attempt to reframe the national conversation about AI in policy terms and signal a heightened level of concern and oversight from the federal government.

At the same time, major AI firms are adjusting how they present their products to the public. Meta and OpenAI have been rolling out friendlier user experiences and public messaging around their AI offerings, moves that align with broader industry efforts to emphasize safety and accessibility. Observers cited in the coverage also note that while consumer-facing AI garners attention, much of the substantial funding and revenue in the sector currently appears tied to enterprise applications.

The developments formed part of the conversation on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast this week, where hosts examined the White House meeting, the economics of consumer AI, shifts in the IPO environment and a string of startup deals. The discussion and related industry activity come as policymakers and companies navigate how to balance innovation, safety, and commercial incentives in a rapidly evolving AI market.