Jeff Bezos Backs Trump's AI Rebrand, Predicts Productivity Boom

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has endorsed former President Donald Trump's preferred term for artificial intelligence, suggesting "super intelligence" (SI) over the more common "artificial intelligence" (AI). In a recent interview with Fox News, Bezos stated that "artificial" can have negative connotations, comparing it to "artificial flavoring" or "artificial sweeteners."

Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, discussed the potential economic impacts of AI, predicting significant productivity gains that could lead to a widespread shift towards three-day workweeks. He posited that increased economic productivity could allow individuals to support their families while working fewer days, and that hiring might become more challenging as people opt out of multiple jobs.

During the approximately 20-minute interview with anchor Bret Baier, Bezos also touched upon his space exploration company, Blue Origin. He revealed plans to potentially utilize Blue Origin satellites as data centers in space and expressed a strong belief in the United States' need to lead in lunar exploration, stating, "We have to beat China to the moon, and I believe we will beat China to the moon." He also mentioned his personal investment of $28 billion in Blue Origin and his intention to eventually file for an Initial Public Offering (IPO).

On the subject of AI regulation, Bezos advocated for a "light hand" in the early stages, drawing an analogy: "You don’t want to regulate knives. You want to regulate murder." He also addressed criticism directed at billionaires, which he has previously called out. He described a mindset where "success is villainy," arguing that accumulating wealth, even to the extent of becoming a billionaire, is not inherently negative. He cited examples like a successful hamburger stand or a popular chicken finger chain to illustrate that success does not equate to being a bad person.

Bezos's interview covered a range of topics, including the future of the American family and the public perception of billionaires. He has previously stated that he revamped The Washington Post's opinion section to focus on "personal liberties and free markets" and controversially halted an endorsement for Kamala Harris during a previous election cycle. His current net worth is estimated by Forbes to be around $370 billion, second only to Elon Musk.