Superintelligence
Intelligence that greatly exceeds the best human minds in nearly every area.
Superintelligence means intelligence far beyond the best human minds in practically every field, from science and strategy to social understanding. The word is often used for a hypothetical machine, but it describes a level of ability, not a particular technology.
The term was brought to wide attention by the philosopher Nick Bostrom, whose 2014 book Superintelligence discussed how such a system might arise and how it might be controlled. He also separated different forms, such as a system that is much faster than a person, one that is much better at reasoning, or a group of many systems working together.
The subject is debated. Supporters of taking it seriously argue that even a small chance of building something so powerful justifies careful thought about safety in advance. Critics say the concept is vague, that intelligence is not a single measurable quantity, and that attention to it distracts from harms caused by AI today. Both views agree that no such system exists at present, and that the language used to describe it is still loose.