US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to adopt a new name for artificial intelligence. The order, issued by the White House, replaces the term "AI" with "Super Intelligence" and "SI" in official government communications. This change aims to reflect the capabilities of modern AI systems, which have moved beyond simply imitating or automating specific aspects of human intelligence.
According to the executive order, advanced AI models today can perform tasks that go beyond human intelligence. The technologies being developed by major companies "far exceed what was envisioned when the term 'Artificial Intelligence' first came into use." The directive applies to future official communications and documents, but previously issued regulations, contracts, and government documents containing the term "Artificial Intelligence" will not need to be changed.
Trump announced the move during the launch of the new America.gov website, saying the term "artificial" no longer reflected the power of the technology. "When you say artificial intelligence, it's artificial. This is extreme intelligence, it's superior intelligence, its supreme intelligence," Trump said. He added that "super" was the preferred description because the technology was becoming increasingly powerful.
A White House fact sheet stated that the new term aimed to reflect the true capabilities of emerging technologies, which could unlock new forms of creativity and enable achievements previously considered impossible. The move comes amid growing global debates over the development, regulation, and safety of advanced AI systems.
Earlier on the same day, technology executives met with the President at the White House and signed a "morally binding" agreement aimed at improving controls and internal audits around AI development. The White House said the change in terminology was part of efforts to recognise the evolving nature of the technology and its expanding role in society.
Trump's science and technology adviser, Michael Kratsios, was directed to consult with government agencies within 60 days to determine how the new terminology should relate to existing legal definitions of artificial intelligence. This consultation will ensure a smooth transition to the new terminology and clarify its implications for existing laws and regulations.
The executive order reflects the administration's efforts to adapt to the rapidly evolving field of AI and its growing impact on society. As AI continues to advance, the US government is taking steps to ensure that its terminology and policies keep pace with the technology's development. The change in terminology is a significant step in this process.
Key points
- US President Donald Trump signs executive order replacing "AI" with "Super Intelligence" in official government communications.
- The new term aims to reflect the true capabilities of emerging technologies, which could unlock new forms of creativity and enable achievements previously considered impossible.
- The move comes amid growing global debates over the development, regulation, and safety of advanced AI systems.
