Japan PM Takaichi Says AI Should Stay 'AI', Opposes Renaming to 'Superintelligence'

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said on October 8, 2026, that artificial intelligence should continue to be called "AI" for now, opposing a proposal to rename it "Superintelligence" (SI).

Responding to a question from Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, during a Lower House interpellation, Takaichi said "AI" has become the mainstream term in both government documents and academic papers, making it difficult to replace all existing references immediately. She also said Japan would closely monitor international trends and the positions of other governments.

The statement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in September 2026 directing U.S. government agencies to use the term "SI" instead of "AI," as part of his push to promote the new terminology.