What’s in a name? Why Trump wants to rebrand AI as ‘super intelligence’
US President Donald Trump wants to retire one of the technology sector’s most recognisable acronyms, arguing that the term “artificial intelligence”, or AI, is no longer fit for purpose. On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order directing US federal agencies to replace “artificial intelligence” and “AI” with “super intelligence” and “SI” in official communications and non-statutory documents.…
Former US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to rebrand the widely recognized term "artificial intelligence," or AI, to "super intelligence" in official communications. The White House issued an executive order on Tuesday directing federal agencies to adopt the new terminology, with the science adviser tasked with drafting a new federal definition.
Trump launched a similar rebranding effort at the United Nations General Assembly last week, arguing that calling the technology "artificial" made it sound "fake." The move has sparked debate and put US tech leaders in an awkward position, with some, like SpaceXAI CEO Elon Musk, struggling to adjust. California Governor Gavin Newsom has urged state agencies to continue using "AI," while China has taken a cautious approach, respecting the decision but maintaining its use of the term "artificial intelligence."
The rebranding reflects Trump's broader push to accelerate American tech development and position the US in a global race against China, sparking differing reactions from industry leaders and political figures.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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