By Rosie Lu
On September 29, 2026, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence,” directing the executive branch to use “Super Intelligence” (SI) in place of “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) in all official federal government communications and other non-statutory documents.
The order asserts that the term “Super Intelligence” is a better representation of the opportunities AI promises, arguing that it encourages creativity and innovation rather than simply imitating human intelligence. The order also states that the change is in the best interests of all Americans, who will benefit as “the United States leads and wins in Super Intelligence.” In the next sixty days, the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology must propose a federal definition for “Super Intelligence” as well as decide if existing statutory references to AI should change.
Looking at the bigger picture, this name change is only the latest of a series from the Trump administration as it looks to expand its AI agenda. The January 23 executive order reversed Biden’s protective policies for AI, while the December 11 order sought to enforce AI laws across all states, followed by the June 2 order, which created a voluntary cybersecurity review framework for AI models to enhance federal security. Moreover, September 29 also saw the White House Accord on Super Intelligence—a voluntary agreement that essentially entrusts AI companies with the safety of their systems, emphasizing technological growth over government regulation. On this same day, Trump also released America.gov, a federal service hub powered by AI.
In California, however, Governor Gavin Newsom took an opposite approach on September 30, maintaining the use of the term “Artificial Intelligence” instead of the federal government’s “Super Intelligence.” This policy provides insight into the governor’s larger approach—addressing AI safety and the interests of workers whose jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI.
For now, the terminology change stays within the executive branch. The administration is expected to propose a federal definition for “Super Intelligence” by November 28, which may reveal broader implications for federal AI policy.