President Donald Trump’s recent call to redefine artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a remarkable surge in domain name registrations in Slovenia, according to reports from the country’s national registry. The president proposed that AI should be referred to as “super intelligence,” or SI, which coincidentally matches the domain suffix used by Slovenian websites.
Klara Herman, a spokesperson for Register.si, disclosed that web addresses ending with the .si suffix skyrocketed to 44,000 registrations in September, a staggering increase from less than 2,000 in August—an increase exceeding 2,100%.
Herman characterized this surge as “unprecedented,” marking a stark contrast to the activity seen in the prior twelve months. This notable increase is believed to have been influenced by Trump’s remarks during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 11, where he argued that the term “artificial” undermines the substance of the technology.
“The use of the word artificial makes it sound fake,” he stated, adding, “It’s not fake; it’s actually amazing. But we have to be careful… welcome to the new world of super intelligence.”
Internet domains serve as the recognizable addresses that users enter into browsers to navigate to various websites, such as bbc.co.uk. Herman noted that the registrations for .si domains in September were exceptionally prominent compared to other months this year, although she remained cautious in attributing the complete rise to Trump’s comments alone. She highlighted that on September 30 alone, there were 11,000 new registrations.
A possible explanation for this trend may be due to speculative purchases by individuals hoping to capitalize on potential increases in domain value. For instance, Rick Schwartz, known as “The Domain King,” purchased the domain name men.com for $15,000 in 1997 and later sold it for $1.32 million seven years later.
Meanwhile, Trump held a notable meeting with leading tech executives, designating it as an “extraordinary gathering” of individuals “building America’s Golden Age.” During this meeting, he signed an executive order requiring U.S. government agencies to adopt the terms “SI” and “Super Intelligence,” compelling them to discontinue the use of the term AI.
This official memorandum stipulates that SI will replace AI in all forms of communication, including correspondence, reports, and websites. However, an online controversy arose when it was revealed that “United States” was misspelled on the signed order.
Editor’s Take
This development highlights a significant shift in the conversation surrounding artificial intelligence. By redefining the terminology, there’s potential for a broader understanding and acceptance of AI’s true capabilities. This change could impact how businesses and developers approach technology and innovation, fostering a more positive narrative around its applications and benefits.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
