superintelligence

noun

su·​per·​in·​tel·​li·​gence ˌsü-pər-in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s 

plural superintelligences

1

: an entity that surpasses humans in overall intelligence or in some particular measure of intelligence

A speed superintelligence could do everything a human mind could do, but much faster.

—Nick Bostrom

also : the intelligence displayed by such an entity

the development of machine superintelligence

2

: an extremely or extraordinarily high degree of intelligence

displayed superintelligence in mathematics

… the first of a planned trilogy about teens whose empathic abilities give them an emotional superintelligence.

—Terry Hong

Examples of superintelligence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some proponents contend that emphasizing existential threats from a hypothetical future superintelligence can serve as a distraction from the more immediate harms and accountability issues surrounding AI today. — Katie McQue, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026

These are among myriad other, and barely imaginable, breakthroughs that AI superintelligence will make possible. — Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026

The bill also targets systems that show dangerous capabilities before reaching full superintelligence. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

Their sweeping measure, announced earlier this month, would permanently ban the development and deployment of artificial superintelligence and temporarily pause advanced AI development until federal safety rules are established. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for superintelligence

• counterintelligence
• intelligence