President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the U.S. government will formally refer to artificial intelligence (AI) as 'Super Intelligence' (SI) in official communications, a rebranding he has promoted since his address at the United Nations General Assembly. The directive was reinforced in a State Department email sent to federal employees on the same day, instructing staff to adopt the new terminology in documents and positions going forward.
During a three-day state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House, which concluded on Friday, Trump stated that Xi appeared receptive to the name change. In a Friday morning Truth Social post, Trump wrote: 'Very productive meeting with President Xi for both the U.S.A. and China. Tremendous things will be happening. Like almost everyone else, he seemed to like calling the poorly and inaccurately named Artificial Intelligence to a far more accurate and important name, SUPER INTELLIGENCE.'
The rebranding effort follows Trump’s U.N. speech, where he argued that the term 'artificial intelligence' is misleading, stating: 'The use of the word “artificial” makes intelligence fake … [I]t is not fake. It’s actually amazing.' He added that 'Super Intelligence' is 'much more accurate.' A Truth Social poll conducted on Monday asked followers to choose between 'super intelligence' and 'superior intelligence', with 65% of over 50,000 respondents favoring the former.
Federal Adoption and Policy Context
The State Department email, obtained by multiple outlets, directed employees to use 'Super Intelligence' or SI in all relevant communications. The directive aligns with Trump’s broader stance on AI regulation, which emphasizes economic growth and technological advancement over imposed safeguards. During his U.N. address, Trump asserted that 'The only control or "guardrails" that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT.' He has resisted calls from some lawmakers and industry leaders for new federal regulations on AI development.
Trump’s push for the rebranding comes amid ongoing U.S.-China competition in AI technology. While Xi did not use the term 'Super Intelligence' during his remarks on Thursday, he emphasized the need for responsible AI development under human control, stating: 'We have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good, and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control and serves the well-being of the people.'
Reception and Industry Response
The rebranding effort has drawn mixed reactions from experts and industry observers. Some marketing professionals note that Trump’s previous rebranding attempts—such as renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America' and Lake Superior to the 'Lake America'—did not gain widespread adoption. Analysts suggest that rebranding a widely recognized term like AI may face similar challenges, despite the administration’s directive.
The term 'Superintelligence' already exists in academic and industry discourse, referring to hypothetical AI systems that could surpass human cognitive abilities. A May 2023 blog post by OpenAI described such systems as 'dramatically more capable than even [artificial general intelligence].' The White House has not publicly addressed whether the new terminology is intended to align with or replace existing technical definitions.
Xi’s Remarks and U.S.-China Relations
Xi’s visit to the U.S., his second state visit since 2017, included discussions on AI governance, trade, and global technology standards. While Trump highlighted the 'productive' nature of the meetings, Xi’s public statements focused on collaborative frameworks for AI development. The two leaders did not publicly confirm a joint stance on the rebranding, and neither the White House nor the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., responded to requests for comment from multiple outlets.
Trump’s rebranding initiative coincides with his administration’s pro-growth approach to AI, which contrasts with regulatory efforts in some U.S. states and calls from international bodies for caution in AI advancement. The administration has not provided additional details on how the new terminology will be implemented or enforced across federal agencies.