Executive order mandates term change

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 29, 2026, requiring all U.S. federal agencies to replace the term "artificial intelligence" with "super intelligence" in their official communications. The order, titled EO 14434, also mandates the use of the abbreviation "SI" in all correspondence, websites, and reports.

NASA implements four-phase plan

NASA has been following a four-phase plan since October 9 to comply with the new directive. Internal documents obtained by Space.com show that employees are under pressure to adopt the new terminology across all aspects of their work, starting with presentations and extending to public-facing content.

Legal framework remains unchanged

The executive order does not alter the existing legal definition of artificial intelligence under 15 U.S.C. § 9401. It only changes how the term is labeled in official communications. The order prohibits officials from recognizing the old term, even in existing contracts, and does not allow exceptions for previously published materials.

Scientific advisory required

The president’s science advisor is tasked with proposing a legislative definition for "super intelligence" within 60 days, by the end of November 2026. Trump explained that the term "artificial" was too limiting and did not fully capture the scope of the technology. No additional regulatory framework is created by the executive order.