President Donald Trump is moving to replace the term "artificial intelligence" with "Super Intelligence" throughout federal agencies, according to plans described by the administration. The change would apply across government, not just in a single department or program.
The shift is more than a naming exercise. The words federal agencies use shape how they write rules, award contracts, and talk to other governments. Renaming AI could alter how the public sees the technology and how policy gets made around it.
What the rename covers
The plan touches federal agencies broadly, meaning the new label would appear in official documents, internal guidance, and public communications where "AI" is currently used. No agency has been singled out as the first to make the switch, and the administration has not laid out a timeline for when the old term would disappear.
Because the change is government-wide, it reaches areas well beyond tech policy. Agencies that handle health, defense, transportation, and benefits all use AI in some form, and all of them would be expected to adopt the new language.
Why the wording matters for policy
Names carry weight in regulation. A term like "artificial intelligence" tends to sound technical and neutral, something to be managed with standards and oversight. "Super Intelligence" suggests something larger, more capable, and harder to contain. That framing can nudge how officials justify funding, how they write safety rules, and how much deference they give the technology.
The rename could also affect how the United States is understood abroad. Other countries and international bodies use "artificial intelligence" in treaties, research agreements, and joint statements. If Washington switches terms, it may complicate those conversations or force partners to decide whether to follow.
Innovation is another area where language plays a role. Companies and researchers watch federal vocabulary for signals about what the government wants to encourage. A grander label may be read as enthusiasm, or it may raise expectations that current systems cannot meet.
The domestic reaction to watch
Within the government, agencies will have to decide how far the change goes. Does it apply to grant applications, procurement notices, and job titles? Does it change the names of offices or programs? Those choices will determine whether this is a cosmetic edit or a real shift in how federal AI work is organized.
Outside the government, the tech industry and advocacy groups are likely to respond differently. Some may welcome the rebrand as a sign of priority. Others may see it as hype that makes it harder to talk plainly about what today's systems can and cannot do.
Congress has its own say. Lawmakers write statutes that mention artificial intelligence, and agencies cannot simply rename what Congress has defined. If the administration wants the change to stick in law, it will need legislative buy-in, which is not guaranteed.
What happens next
The administration has not said when the first agencies will formally adopt "Super Intelligence" or whether there will be a public rollout. Watch for updated agency websites, revised guidance documents, and new contract language. Those will be the first concrete signs of how far the rename reaches.
The bigger question is whether the new term changes actual policy or only the packaging. That answer will come as agencies begin issuing rules and spending decisions under the new label.
