Trump orders US government to call AI ‘Super Intelligence’

• President Donald Trump signed an executive order that bans the term “artificial intelligence” in official U.S. government communications.
• All federal policy sites, documents and press releases must now use “Super Intelligence” instead.
• The change is justified by Trump’s claim that “the word super is the best word of all, and it’s the simplest.”

The White House announced Tuesday that a new executive order requires every U.S. government agency to replace the phrase “artificial intelligence” with “Super Intelligence” in all policy documents, websites and press releases. The move, signed by President Donald Trump, signals a shift in how the federal administration will frame emerging technologies and could affect everything from research funding to international negotiations.

What prompted the terminology shift?

Trump’s order follows a brief statement in which he said, “The word super is the best word of all, and it’s the simplest.” The administration argues that the new term better captures the ambition of advanced computing systems. By mandating a uniform label, the order seeks to eliminate what officials describe as “semantic ambiguity” that they believe has hampered policy clarity.

In practice, the shift is intended to create a single, unambiguous reference point for policymakers, allowing them to discuss capabilities, risks and strategic goals without having to deal with, work through the varied meanings that have historically been attached to the older term. This linguistic consolidation is meant to streamline internal memoranda, inter‑agency briefings and external communications.

How will agencies implement the change?

Each department must audit its existing publications and replace every instance of “artificial intelligence” with “Super Intelligence.” The directive applies to policy briefs, research summaries, procurement guidelines and public‑facing webpages. Agencies are expected to report compliance within a 30‑day window, after which the Office of Management and Budget will conduct spot checks.

Technical staff will need to update search algorithms and metadata tags to reflect the new terminology. The change may also require revisions to contracts that reference “AI” in legal language, prompting a review of procurement clauses and grant agreements.

Implementation will also involve training sessions for communications officers so that they understand the rationale behind the new label and can apply it consistently across all written and spoken outputs. These sessions are designed to reduce inadvertent re‑use of the former term and to embed the new language into the routine workflow of policy drafting.

What are the broader implications for the tech sector?

Federal terminology often shapes industry standards. By redefining the official lexicon, the order could influence how private firms describe their own products when seeking government contracts. Companies may adopt “Super Intelligence” in proposals to align with the new language, potentially creating a parallel naming convention that diverges from the global consensus.

International partners could view the shift as a symbolic move rather than a substantive policy change. If other governments continue to use “artificial intelligence,” the United States may find itself speaking a different technical language in multilateral forums, which could affect collaborative research and standard‑setting efforts.

Analysts have argued that the rebranding may have little impact on actual research funding or regulatory oversight. The order does not alter budget allocations, safety guidelines or export controls. Its primary effect appears to be linguistic, aimed at reinforcing a narrative that emphasizes the “super” nature of emerging technologies.

For companies that already operate in the federal marketplace, the new terminology may require modest adjustments to marketing materials and compliance checklists, but it is unlikely to change the underlying technical requirements that govern product performance or security standards.

What comes next?

The administration will monitor agency compliance and release a quarterly report on the transition’s progress. If significant pushback emerges from industry or foreign partners, the White House could issue clarifying guidance or adjust the policy. Until then, all official U.S. communications will refer to “Super Intelligence,” and the term will become the default reference point for any future federal discussion of advanced computing.

Observers will be watching for signs that the terminology shift translates into concrete changes in procurement language, research grant calls and diplomatic statements. The next set of agency reports should reveal whether the new label is being consistently applied or if remnants of the older term persist in internal documents. Continued scrutiny will help determine if the linguistic change remains symbolic or begins to shape substantive policy directions.

Source: The Verge.