U.S. President Donald Trump has formally directed the executive branch to replace the terms “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” with “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in federal government communications, marking a major change in how Washington refers to the technology.
Key Points
- Trump signed an executive order on September 29, 2026, titled “Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence.”
- Federal executive agencies are directed to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” instead of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI.”
- The change applies to official correspondence, websites, reports, policy documents and other non-statutory materials.
- The order does not immediately erase the existing term from U.S. laws or previously issued government documents.
- The White House has ordered a proposal for a federal definition of “Super Intelligence” within 60 days.
Trump Makes the Change Official
President Donald Trump has formally changed the terminology used by the U.S. executive branch for artificial intelligence.
In an executive order signed on September 29, Trump directed federal departments and agencies to use “Super Intelligence,” shortened to “SI,” instead of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” in official government communications.
The White House says the new terminology is intended to reflect the increasingly advanced capabilities of modern AI systems.
Why Trump Wants the Name Changed
The executive order argues that today's frontier systems have capabilities that go beyond the original concept of artificial intelligence, which was named decades ago.
According to the White House, these systems increasingly amplify human creativity and can be applied to areas including science, medicine, energy and manufacturing.
The administration therefore says “Super Intelligence” better represents what it considers the technological frontier being developed today.
What Actually Changes?
The order primarily changes terminology within the executive branch. Federal agencies are instructed to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents and other non-statutory materials. Existing laws, regulations, contracts and historical documents are not automatically rewritten.
A New Federal Definition Is Coming
The executive order also calls for a new federal definition of “Super Intelligence” and “SI.”
The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology has been given 60 days to submit proposed legislative language addressing the definition and possible changes to existing statutory references to artificial intelligence and AI.
Until a new definition is established, the order says “Super Intelligence” and “SI” will generally cover technologies and systems already encompassed by the existing federal definition of artificial intelligence.
The Change Began With Trump's UN Announcement
Trump had already announced the terminology change during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Following that speech, the U.S. State Department instructed diplomats in its international organizations bureau to replace references to “Artificial Intelligence” with “Super Intelligence” and to use “SI” in official remarks and positions.
The September 29 executive order subsequently expanded the terminology change across the executive branch.
What It Means for the AI Industry
The terminology change comes as the United States continues to expand investment in advanced computing, AI infrastructure and frontier AI systems.
The White House has framed the technology as a major economic and scientific opportunity, while the administration is also seeking greater U.S. leadership in the global technology race.
For companies, researchers and the public, however, the familiar term “AI” remains widely used outside the federal executive branch. The order itself specifically targets federal executive-branch usage rather than establishing a universal requirement for everyone in the United States to stop using “AI.”
A Broader Shift in Language
Trump's decision represents more than a change in an abbreviation for federal agencies. It places new terminology at the center of the administration's technology policy and reflects its emphasis on increasingly capable AI systems.
Whether “Super Intelligence” becomes widely adopted outside the U.S. government remains uncertain. For now, the formal change is concentrated within the executive branch, while “artificial intelligence” and “AI” remain established terms throughout the technology industry, academia and international institutions.
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