Trump promises to ban “AI” terminology in favor of “Super Intelligence”

President Donald Trump promised on October 27, 2026, to officially ban “AI” and “Artificial Intelligence,” using a Truth Social post to pressure The Wall Street Journal to adopt “Super Intelligence” or “SI.” He called the familiar name inaccurate and claimed virtually everyone else was using his preferred term, or soon would be.

The newspaper’s opinion section had published a newsletter titled “Let AI Be AI.” Written from the perspective of AI systems, it opposed the switch and noted that SI already refers to Sports Illustrated and the International System of Units, according to The Independent.

In short order, we will be officially BANNING the term, ‘AI/Artificial Intelligence,’ in all relevant documents, and everything else, due to its inaccuracy

Donald Trump, in his October 27 Truth Social post, quoted by The Independent

The existing order stops at the executive branch

The post leaves the reach of “everything else” undefined. Executive Order 14434, signed September 29, addresses language used by executive departments and agencies. It is not a general prohibition on the public or newspapers using AI. Its implementation requirements apply “to the maximum extent permitted by law.”

That instruction covers official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents and other non-statutory documents within the executive branch. It requires both substitutions: “Super Intelligence” for the full name and “SI” for the abbreviation. The directive reaches outward-facing agency language as well as internal documents.

It does not require agencies to alter previously issued regulations, presidential actions, contracts, grants or other historical documents. Implementation must also remain consistent with applicable law and is subject to available funding.

The replacement name keeps AI’s legal meaning

The order argues that “Super Intelligence” better captures the technology’s promise, potential and advancing capabilities. It presents the change as a way for federal language to reflect opportunities in areas including science and medicine. That is the administration’s rationale for the name, rather than a new technical definition.

For purposes of the order, unless the law provides otherwise, SI means the technologies and systems covered by the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence. The replacement term does not, by itself, create a separate legal category for more capable systems.

The September order also starts a process for proposing a different federal definition. It gives the president’s science and technology assistant 60 days to submit legislative language assessing whether SI should modify, expand or replace AI’s statutory definition, alongside corresponding amendments and recommendations for further executive action.