The term superintelligence is often used for hypothetical systems that outperform humans at most cognitive tasks. It's a word that provokes strong reactions — partly because it points far into the future, and partly because different communities use it in different ways.
Why the term keeps coming up
For some, the word is useful because it draws attention to how large the consequences could be if AI systems become far more capable than they are today. For others, it makes the debate less precise, because it lumps long-term scenarios together with more immediate governance challenges.
A more sober approach
A more cautious starting point is to ask what capabilities these systems actually gain, which decisions they influence, and how difficult they are to control. That shifts the discussion toward governance rather than speculation.