Trump Renames AI as ‘Super Intelligence’ in New Executive Order

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday that will replace all official references to artificial intelligence with the term ‘Super Intelligence’ across federal policy websites, documents, and press releases. The change follows Trump’s remarks at an event launching America.gov, where he declared the new label “the best word of all” and praised Chinese President Xi Jinping’s approval of the term.

Key points

• Executive order mandates federal agencies to use “Super Intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence” or “AI.”
• Trump cited a luncheon with Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Elon Musk’s Tesla/SpaceX as a catalyst for the rebrand.
• The order does not require agencies to revise past regulations, but it signals a shift in official terminology.
• Trump framed the change as a response to “fake news” concerns and a desire to curb harmful uses of AI.
• The new terminology aligns with industry slang for highly capable AI systems, though it expands the scope.

What happened

The order was signed after a White House luncheon that hosted several tech CEOs, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Trump called the meeting “very productive” and “extremely friendly,” noting that “there’s a belief that there should be tremendous self‑regulation.” He added that the Department of Justice and the FBI already provide regulatory oversight. Trump first announced the rebrand during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, where he aimed to allay fears that AI is advancing too quickly and poses a safety risk. He explained that the term “super” reflects the technology’s power and brilliance, and that “data centers are going to be very popular.” The executive order applies to all federal policy websites, documents, and press releases, but agencies are not required to amend existing regulations.

The backstory

The phrase “superintelligence” has long been used in academic and industry circles to describe AI systems that surpass human cognitive capabilities. In recent years, governments worldwide have debated how to define and regulate such systems. Trump’s decision to adopt the term in official policy documents follows a broader trend of rebranding or redefining AI in public discourse, often to mitigate negative perceptions or to align with national strategic interests. The move also reflects a pattern of the current administration’s emphasis on “self‑regulation” and a reduced role for external oversight.

Why the rebrand matters

By replacing “artificial intelligence” with “Super Intelligence,” the executive order signals that the administration views the technology as inherently powerful, not merely a human-made tool. This semantic shift could influence how future policy is drafted, potentially widening the scope of what is considered AI and thereby affecting compliance requirements for companies. The order also positions the federal government as a proponent of the term, which may encourage other nations to adopt similar language, creating a new baseline for international AI discussions.

Potential consequences for the industry

The rebrand may create confusion for legal teams tasked with interpreting federal guidance. Companies that rely on AI in their products will need to monitor how the term is applied in forthcoming regulations, especially if the new language is incorporated into enforcement documents. The order could also affect contract language, where references to “AI” must be updated to “Super Intelligence” to remain consistent with federal standards. Finally, the emphasis on “self‑regulation” could shift some responsibility from regulators to industry, potentially altering the pace and nature of compliance initiatives.

What builders and businesses should do

• Track any new federal guidance that references “Super Intelligence” and update internal documentation accordingly.
• Review existing contracts and policies for references to AI, and revise them to align with the new terminology.
• Engage with industry groups to shape how the term is applied in standard‑of‑practice documents.
• Monitor enforcement actions to determine whether the federal government will apply the new label to regulatory penalties.
• Prepare for potential shifts in data‑center infrastructure requirements, as the order hints at increased federal support for community‑grade facilities.

The bottom line

Watch for the first policy releases that incorporate the new terminology, likely within the next quarter. The change will matter most to firms that operate at the intersection of federal contracts and AI deployment, as it will redefine compliance language and may influence future regulatory frameworks.