Akash Samaroo
Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dominic Smith says he will be guided by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Cabinet on whether the ministry’s name will change following the Prime Minister’s endorsement of “Super Intelligence” as a replacement term for Artificial Intelligence.
Smith was responding to questions from Guardian Media after Persad-Bissessar publicly backed US President Donald Trump’s call for Artificial Intelligence to instead be called Super Intelligence during her address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday.
Asked whether the development could result in the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence being renamed, Smith said the matter would be for the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
“It’s an interesting development and it is a demonstration and indicative of how quickly the technology is advancing,” Smith said.
“It certainly signals that the Prime Minister’s vision of the Ministry has taken a global footing and I will be guided by the Honourable Prime Minister and the Cabinet on this once her UNGA trip is completed.”
Persad-Bissessar endorsed Trump’s terminology while outlining Trinidad and Tobago’s priorities as the country prepares to take up its non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in January 2027.
“We agree with President Trump’s practical call for Artificial Intelligence to be renamed Super Intelligence,” the Prime Minister told the General Assembly.
She then adopted the terminology throughout the technology section of her address, referring to “Super Intelligence” and “SI” while discussing emerging technologies and global security.
Persad-Bissessar said T&T intends to encourage greater consideration of the implications of SI for international peace and security, including cyberattacks, disinformation and deepfakes, autonomous weapons, criminal misuse of the technology and threats to critical infrastructure.
She also acknowledged the potential benefits of emerging technologies, including their use in conflict prevention, early warning, peacekeeping and the protection of civilians.
