US Treasury pushes IMF members to say "super intelligence" instead of AI in this week's IMFC statement, taking Trump's terminology order abroad

Why it matters

【Key points】

US Treasury Under Secretary Erin Browne told Reuters on October 15, at the IMF meetings in Bangkok, that Washington is negotiating to have this week's statement from the IMF steering committee (IMFC) say "super intelligence" (SI) instead of "artificial intelligence." She called it "a clear priority for the US," which holds the G20 presidency, and declined to say whether the US would refuse to sign without it.

A source told Reuters US officials signaled they would insist, "raising eyebrows" among some members; one fallback would say "new technology" instead. Without consensus, IMFC chair Mohammed Al-Jadaan could issue a chair's statement. The statement is due Saturday, October 17.

【Verifiable】

Reuters (via Investing.com): https://www.investing.com/news/economy-news/us-treasury-pushes-global-partners-to-rename-ai-as-super-intelligence-4951669

Background: Executive Order 14434 (September 29) requires federal agencies to use SI in place of AI; see e/815: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/09/inaugurating-the-era-of-super-intelligence/

The "insist" claim and the fallback come from a single anonymous source.

【Our read】

1. This is the first time EO 14434 has been taken into international talks. It binds only US agencies; Treasury is now using it as a bargaining point via the G20 presidency.

2. The word changes no technology or rule, but it changes how documents read. A "new technology" sidestep or chair's statement means others are not following; if SI makes it in, it may spread through G20 texts, where it means today's AI.

3. Saturday: SI, AI or "new technology"; consensus or chair's statement; which word Georgieva uses. Around November 28 the White House science adviser is due to propose a legal definition of SI.