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The title of the movie Terminator: Genisys is obviously using some made-up, fanciful spelling of the word "genesis". Out-of-universe I assume this is just to make it more trademark-able / license-able.

But is there any meaning behind the word from within the story? Is it ever used, and if so, does anyone explain why they choose to spell it so badly?

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    Just a clarification for those seeking to answer - you're aware the "sys" part comes from "system", yes?
    – DavidS
    Commented Jul 3, 2015 at 12:13
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    I had assumed that, but then what is "geni"? Why not "Genesys", like every English speaking user of this site wants to spell it? :\
    – KutuluMike
    Commented Jul 3, 2015 at 12:22
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    Wake up people: Linda Hamilton has an identical twin sister, or, to put it another way, a genetically-identical sister. Shorten that, and you get “gene-sis”. Simple!
    – Paul D. Waite
    Commented Jul 3, 2015 at 12:51
  • @DavidS is that something explained in the new movie?
    – phantom42
    Commented Jul 3, 2015 at 13:56
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    They didn't need to modify the spelling to make it trademark-able. That's not how trademarks work. It's clearly a reference to the birth of Skynet while modifying the spelling to make it sounds like a software platform.
    – Lèse majesté
    Commented Sep 27, 2015 at 7:14

2 Answers 2

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Genisys = Genius + System

Cyberdyne Systems' Genisys is the first computer operating system intended for mass use whose design incorporates artificial intelligence research — in order words, this operating system is smart.

This isn't explained in the film as directly as the word equation above, but it is heavily implied.

In-universe, it has the effect of being snazzy and fanciful, as you say, for product-selling purposes. As a homonym of "genesis",

it also represents Skynet's new path to existence.

Out-of-universe, it represents the birth of new story timelines, meaning more opportunities to create sequels that pale in comparison to T2.

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  • Good theory, but is there any in-universe proof to explain this? Behind the scenes, interviews etc?
    – Stark07
    Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 6:45
  • @Stark07 : Nope. I searched thoroughly. But as I said, it's heavily implied. In particular, the character Danny Dyson of Cyberdyne makes comments that hint at this. Once I have access to a script, I'll insert that.
    – Praxis
    Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 12:20
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    -Thank you. I read somewhere that Genisys was meant to be an allusion to SYS- as in system, and genesis- as in birth/beginnning...
    – Stark07
    Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 12:25
  • @Stark07 : I agree. It is definitely supposed to sound like "genesis". If that were all, then they could have written it "genesys". I believe the reason for the "i" is the explanation in my answer, and so there are really three words here: genius, system, and genesis. :-)
    – Praxis
    Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 12:30
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    @Lèsemajesté : I agree. (In answering, I took the question to be in-universe, and so I mainly commented on that aspect.)
    – Praxis
    Commented Sep 27, 2015 at 7:32
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It stands for "General Identification System" Also "Genisys" as in the first or new beginning or new age. It's the beginning of the mark referred to in the book of Revelation of the Bible, a one world tracking system.

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    It sounds likely, but do you have anything to back this up?
    – Joe L.
    Commented Nov 15, 2015 at 22:21

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