Trump orders US government to stop using ‘artificial intelligence’ label, mandates ‘superintelligence’

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump wants to eliminate the term “artificial intelligence” from the federal government’s official communications. Instead of the established abbreviation AI, Trump is pushing for the adoption of the term “superintelligence” and the abbreviation SI. On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, he announced plans to officially prohibit use of the original term in relevant documents, emphasizing that this is not a ban of the technology itself. On September 29, Trump signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to use the new terminology whenever permitted by law.

This move reflects the president’s ongoing drive to introduce his own preferred terminology, which he claims better captures the capabilities of the latest technology systems.

Trump shared his latest statement on the Truth Social platform, responding to the continued use of the phrase “artificial intelligence” in US media, specifically by The Wall Street Journal.

Trump insists ‘artificial’ is the problem—calls former label misleading

Donald Trump argues that the current label does not aptly describe the capabilities of modern intelligent systems.

He focuses in particular on the word “artificial” in English.

According to Trump, the term could wrongly suggest the technology is fake or inferior.

Trump is convinced that today’s systems represent a much more powerful form of intelligence than the traditional name implies.

This is why he is promoting the term “Super Intelligence.”

Trump claims the new label is meant to represent technological progress and the United States’ status as a global technology superpower.

However, the name change does not mean that all existing AI systems have reached the level of true superintelligence.

White House executive order: More than just a presidential idea

Trump’s initiative now has a concrete legal basis.

On September 29, 2026, he signed an executive order titled “Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence.”

This order mandates that US federal departments and agencies use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in official materials instead of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI.”

The changes primarily cover:

• Official correspondence – documents and communications from federal institutions.
• Government websites – official information published by agencies.
• Public statements – press releases and other administration communications.
• Strategic documents – government policies, analyses, and reports.
• Other non-legislative materials – documents where legal provisions permit the change.

The order does not require retroactive changes to already-issued regulations, contracts, or historical documents.

Implementation of the order must also respect existing laws.

US agencies have already begun using the new label

The change is gradually being reflected in the day-to-day operations of the US administration.

According to Reuters, employees of the US Department of Justice were instructed in early October to use the new terminology in official communications.

Guidance could apply to legal filings as the situation requires.

The Associated Press has reported that some US diplomats have received similar instructions.

This shows the change is not merely symbolic or limited to social media.

The United States has already begun integrating the new terminology into some federal administrative operations.

The extent of its adoption depends on legal constraints and individual agency decisions.

What is ‘superintelligence’—and why could the new term be misleading?

The term “superintelligence” has been used in technology circles for some time.

However, it carries a different meaning from the general concept of artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence refers to a broad group of systems able to process information, recognize patterns, generate content, or solve specific tasks.

This category includes language models, image generators, machine translation systems, and data analysis tools.

In expert discussions, “superintelligence” usually describes a hypothetical level of AI that surpasses human capabilities across a wide spectrum of intellectual activities.

Such sweeping technological dominance has not yet been reliably demonstrated.

Trump’s order therefore changes primarily the administrative label—not the real capabilities of current technologies.

The order explicitly states that the “SI” designation currently covers technologies defined in existing legal definitions of artificial intelligence.

Trump aims for US technological leadership

The president’s decision is also driven by strategic rivalry between the United States and China.

Washington considers advanced intelligent systems to be technologies with significant economic and security implications.

Trump has repeatedly stressed that American companies must remain at the forefront of technological innovation.

He also opposes the introduction of regulations he believes could slow innovation.

Aktualizovane.sk previously covered Trump’s position in the article, “Trump rejects new restrictions on AI, says security should be overseen by a high-IQ president.”

The president supports holding technology companies accountable for their own products, while opposing sweeping new regulations.

This approach has sparked debate among developers, security experts and lawmakers.

Tech firms, not government, should police themselves, says Trump

Back in September, the US administration introduced a voluntary agreement with major technology companies.

The aim is to encourage security audits and responsible development of the most advanced intelligent systems.

The negotiations involved representatives from companies developing artificial intelligence and the supporting technological infrastructure.

Trump prefers voluntary commitments over sweeping, new legal restrictions.

Aktualizovane.sk reported further details in the article, “Trump leaves AI oversight to tech companies. The new agreement won’t be legally binding.”

Critics argue that voluntary rules might not provide enough protection against abuse of the most powerful systems.

Supporters of lighter regulation, on the other hand, argue it is necessary to keep American companies competitive.

Can Trump ban the term ‘AI’ for regular people?

This question has become central to the latest announcement.

There is no indication Trump has imposed a blanket ban against public, media, or private sector use of the phrase “artificial intelligence.”

The executive order of September 29 concerns the federal executive branch and its official terminology.

It does not create a universal requirement for all US citizens.

Accordingly, US media can continue to use the established AI label.

Likewise, there is no evidence that technology companies risk penalties for continuing to use the original name in products or advertising.

Trump’s statements about a forthcoming official ban should therefore be interpreted in the context of the executive order already issued.

If the president sought a wider legal change, it would have to comply with existing US laws and constitutional limits.

What does Trump’s decision mean for Slovakia and Europe?

The move has limited direct legal impact on Slovakia.

The European Union uses the term artificial intelligence in its own legal frameworks, including the AI Act.

The US president’s order does not affect these European rules.

Slovak companies, schools, media and technology users do not need to adopt the term “superintelligence.”

The situation may differ only when communicating with US federal agencies, which will use the new terms in their documents.

At the same time, Slovakia is preparing its own AI oversight framework in compliance with EU laws.

Aktualizovane.sk has reported on this topic as well, regarding the planned new oversight powers for Slovak authorities.

Core risks of artificial intelligence remain unchanged

The name change comes at a time when experts are debating the safety of increasingly powerful AI models.

Frequent concerns include the spread of disinformation, cyberattacks, misuse of personal data, and society’s growing dependence on automated systems.

Some technology experts also highlight long-term risks from the development of systems that could exceed human abilities.

However, such concerns should not be conflated with claims that today’s artificial intelligence already possesses unlimited capability or is beyond human control.

The designation of “superintelligence” by itself is not proof of progress or the safety of any particular product.

Will Trump change the name of AI worldwide?

The US president can influence his own administration’s terminology and, through official documents, shape aspects of international communication.

He cannot, however, unilaterally order other countries, scientists, or media outlets to change their terminology.

The term “artificial intelligence” has existed for nearly 70 years and is deeply rooted in scientific literature, education, and legislation.

It remains uncertain whether Trump’s new term will catch on beyond the US federal administration.

Donald Trump has now officially directed federal agencies to use “superintelligence” in their documents, and is pushing for enforcement of this naming. However, the rest of the world and even much of the US continues to use the AI label — while the technology itself remains unchanged regardless of what it’s called.

Source: ta3, ČTK, Reuters, Associated Press, White House.

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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.