superintelligence

noun

su·​per·​in·​tel·​li·​gence ˌsü-pər-in-ˈte-lə-jən(t)s How to pronounce superintelligence (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Almost all human activities eventually will be some kind of collaboration with superintelligence and physical AI. Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026 Advances seem to be plateauing; the conversation in tech circles is now less about superintelligence and more about the possibility of an AI bubble. Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026 But one of the many problems with an AGI finish line is that by its very nature, a machine superintelligence would be smarter than humans and therefore impossible to control. IEEE Spectrum, 19 Feb. 2026 Read the story » More Top Stories Nick Land, the doomsaying philosopher of Silicon Valley, believes that digital superintelligence is going to kill us all. Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for superintelligence

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of superintelligence was circa 1822

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Cite this Entry

“Superintelligence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superintelligence. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.

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