Trump Orders US Agencies to Replace 'Artificial Intelligence' With 'Super Intelligence'
The White House is trying to change the vocabulary of technology. An executive order from President Donald Trump directs federal agencies to replace "AI" (Artificial Intelligence) with "SI" (Super Intelligence) in official communications.
What has happened so far
- Executive order: federal agencies are directed to use "SI" in place of "AI" in official communications.
- Justice Department: a memo reviewed by Reuters tells staff to use "super intelligence" instead of "artificial intelligence" in most official communications, including some legal contexts (reported 6 October).
- Truth Social post: on 8 October, Trump wrote that anyone who uses "Artificial Intelligence" instead of "Super Intelligence" is "THE ENEMY!"
- Websites: AI.gov now displays "SI.gov", though Axios noted that parts of the White House's own digital infrastructure still used "AI".
Why it's controversial
In computer science, "superintelligence" has a specific meaning: a hypothetical AI system that greatly exceeds human intelligence in virtually every domain. Today's AI systems, including chatbots and image generators, are not considered superintelligent by researchers.
Critics argue the rename could:
- Confuse the public and businesses about what current technology can do
- Create legal ambiguity where laws, contracts and regulations refer to "artificial intelligence"
- Clash with terms used by international bodies and the EU AI Act
Supporters see it as a branding move that emphasises American ambitions in the global AI race.
Public opinion context
An AP-NORC poll conducted 24–28 September 2026 found that 64% of US adults think AI is developing too fast, and about 8 in 10 said keeping AI under human control should be a government priority.
What happens next
Watch for how agencies, courts and Congress handle the terminology, especially in legal documents and regulations, and whether private companies follow the government's language.
Sources
- TechStartups, "Tech News Weekly Roundup" (9 October 2026): https://techstartups.com/2026/10/09/tech-news-weekly-roundup-the-biggest-stories-in-ai-big-tech-startups-and-cybersecurity/
- TechStartups, "Top AI News Stories This Week (October 5–9, 2026)": https://techstartups.com/2026/10/09/top-ai-news-stories-this-week-october-5-9-2026/