Trump Moves to Replace ‘Artificial Intelligence’ With His Preferred Term, ‘Super Intelligence’

President Donald Trump is pushing to eliminate the term “artificial intelligence” from federal documents and other official materials, arguing that the phrase inaccurately describes the technology and should be replaced with “super intelligence.”

Trump announced the move Tuesday in a post on Truth Social, saying the government would soon prohibit the use of the existing terminology in relevant documents. He has increasingly promoted the alternative name, which he believes better reflects the capabilities of rapidly advancing AI technology.

The president also criticized The Wall Street Journal for continuing to use the familiar term. He questioned why the publication had not adopted “super intelligence,” suggesting that the alternative would eventually become more widely accepted.

The effort builds on an executive order Trump signed in September directing the executive branch to adopt his preferred terminology. He has also used social media to criticize those who continue referring to the technology as artificial intelligence rather than super intelligence.

Earlier this month, Trump took his position a step further, declaring that his administration viewed the continued use of the older term unfavorably. His remarks underscored his determination to establish the new wording throughout government communications.

Trump explained his reasoning during an address to the United Nations General Assembly last month. While discussing international efforts to regulate emerging technologies, he said the United States would refer to artificial intelligence as super intelligence in its official documents.

The president argued that the word “artificial” could give people the impression that the intelligence produced by these systems is somehow fake or less significant than human intelligence. He rejected that implication, describing the technology as remarkable while also warning that its development requires careful consideration.

His proposed terminology represents a departure from the standard language used throughout the technology industry, government agencies and academic research. Artificial intelligence has long served as the broad term for computer systems capable of performing tasks associated with human cognitive abilities, including analyzing information, generating content and recognizing patterns.

Superintelligence, by contrast, is commonly used in discussions about hypothetical or advanced systems that could surpass human intellectual capabilities across a wide range of tasks. The two terms are not generally interchangeable in technical discussions, making Trump’s proposed change more than a simple adjustment in wording.

The administration has also begun building an organizational structure around the president’s preferred approach. Earlier this month, Trump announced the creation of a federal initiative called the “Super Intelligence Force,” which he said would coordinate government efforts to maintain America’s leadership in the field.

According to Trump’s announcement, the group will be led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton. Its responsibilities include coordinating federal activities related to super intelligence and helping ensure that the United States remains competitive as the technology advances.

Trump described the initiative as an important effort to protect American interests and improve the lives of citizens. He compared the potential significance of the technology to major developments such as the Industrial Revolution and the arrival of the internet.

The organization is also expected to coordinate with a broad range of participants, including technology companies, consumer representatives, religious organizations, public interest groups and providers of critical infrastructure.

These responsibilities suggest that the administration’s plans extend beyond changing terminology in official paperwork. The proposed initiative is intended to bring together government agencies and outside organizations as the United States continues developing policies surrounding advanced computing systems.

Whether the president’s preferred terminology will gain broader acceptance remains uncertain. The established phrase artificial intelligence is deeply embedded in commercial products, research, legislation and everyday conversation. Replacing it across federal documents would require changes to the language used by government agencies and could influence how officials communicate about the technology.

For now, Trump is making clear that he wants the federal government to adopt a different vocabulary as it approaches one of the most consequential technological developments of the modern era. His campaign to replace AI with SI reflects his broader effort to shape not only the administration’s policies on emerging technology but also the language used to describe it.