Trump administration to replace artificial intelligence with super intelligence

The official name change

President Donald Trump announced that his administration will officially ban the term "artificial intelligence" in all relevant federal documents. He stated that the current name is very bad and inaccurate for describing the current state of the technology. The administration intends to replace it with "super intelligence," which will be abbreviated as "SI."

As reported by The Times of India, Trump highlighted this change on Truth Social, where he questioned why major news outlets have not yet adopted the new terminology. He suggested that the name "super intelligence" is what virtually everyone else will soon be using. The move is part of a broader effort to align government language with what the administration views as the reality of modern computing.

The order specifically directs federal departments and agencies to make this switch in their official communications and operations. This includes government correspondence, public communications, official websites, and administrative policy documents. The goal is to ensure that the federal government uses a consistent vocabulary when discussing these technologies with the public and other agencies.

The logic behind the shift

The rationale for this change was outlined in an executive order signed on September 30 titled "Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence." The order explains that advances in technology have outgrown the original framework used to describe artificial intelligence. The administration argues that the old term no longer fits the capabilities of today's frontier systems.

According to the order, modern systems do much more than just imitate or automate specific parts of human intelligence. Instead, these systems are described as tools that amplify human ingenuity and unlock new forms of creativity. The administration believes this technology empowers Americans to achieve things that were previously impossible in fields like medicine and science.

By moving away from "artificial" intelligence, the administration seeks to emphasize the collaborative nature of these tools. The focus is on how these systems can help humans reach new heights in nearly every domain of human endeavor. This shift in language suggests a policy focus on the expansion of human capabilities rather than the mere automation of tasks.

Who is affected by the change

The directive primarily affects federal agencies and the officials who manage their operations and communications. These departments must update their official websites and reports to reflect the new terminology. This ensures that any public-facing information provided by the government uses the approved name, "super intelligence."

However, the order specifies that the change will not be applied retroactively to certain types of records. Existing regulations, government contracts, and grants will remain unchanged. Historical archival records will also keep their original terminology, meaning the transition is focused on future operations and new documents.

The move follows a high-level meeting between President Trump and several prominent technology executives. These leaders, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, discussed the safe development of advanced systems. The administration's new naming convention will serve as the standard for how these discussions and subsequent policies are framed in the public record.

Next steps for federal law

The executive order includes a specific timeline for the next phase of this policy shift. The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology has been given a deadline to act. They must submit proposed legislation to Congress within 60 days to define "super intelligence" under federal law.

This proposed legislation will also recommend corresponding changes to existing laws to accommodate the new terminology. By seeking a formal definition in federal law, the administration wants to create a permanent legal framework for the technology. This goes beyond just changing words in documents and moves toward a codified legal status.

The administration is also looking at how these changes will affect the broader regulatory landscape. By defining the technology as super intelligence, the government may seek to adjust how it oversees the development of these systems. This process will involve working with Congress to ensure that the legal definitions match the administration's vision of human-amplifying technology.