Trump Issues Executive Order Replacing 'Artificial Intelligence' With 'Super Intelligence' in Federal Documents
President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to adopt the term 'Super Intelligence' and its abbreviation 'SI' in place of 'artificial intelligence' and 'AI' in official communications and policy documents. Trump previously argued that the word 'artificial' makes the technology sound fake, and he polled his supporters on whether to use 'super intelligence' or 'superior intelligence,' with 65 percent favoring the former. Experts expressed skepticism that the rebranding would gain traction unless technology industry leaders adopt the new terminology.
Trump's rebranding initiative stems from his belief that the word "artificial" undermines public perception of AI capabilities by making the technology sound inferior or fabricated. The president gathered feedback from his social media platform before selecting "super intelligence" as the preferred alternative, with roughly two-thirds of respondents supporting this choice over "superior intelligence." The executive order applies primarily to nonstatutory federal communications, leaving ambiguity about whether existing laws and agency designations containing "AI" will require updates.
Technical experts raise significant concerns about the terminology shift. The phrase "super intelligence" already carries established meaning within technology fields, referring specifically to artificial systems exceeding human cognitive abilities across all domains. This overlap creates potential confusion, as current AI systems do not yet approach such capabilities. Industry adoption would likely determine whether the federal government's linguistic change influences broader usage.
The rebranding could affect how government communicates about technology policy to the public, potentially influencing public perception and legislative discussions around AI regulation. However, unless major technology companies adopt the terminology, the change may remain confined to federal documents without meaningful impact on scientific discourse or industry standards. The initiative also highlights ongoing debates about how societies frame emerging technologies and whether terminology influences public understanding and support for related policies.