Trump Dumps 'Artificial Intelligence,' Rebrands It 'Super Intelligence'
President Donald Trump has officially killed the term “artificial intelligence” for the federal government. From now on, it's “super intelligence.” And he's got an executive order to prove it.
“So we're going to name it SI, super intelligence, for we don't want to hear artificial because it's not artificial,” Trump said. “It's very powerful, it's very brilliant, it's going to mostly be put to great use and we'll stop the bad use. But we're changing the name to super intelligence and everybody likes it.”
This isn't just talk. Trump formalized the change for the executive branch through an executive order. The White House is betting big that this technology will supercharge the American economy and help the nation outrun its crushing debt.
What Is the White House Accord on Super Intelligence?
Alongside the name change, AI industry leaders signed the “White House Accord on Super Intelligence.” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) joined Trump in announcing the voluntary safety commitments, which the president called “morally binding.”
Trump made his case plainly: “I'm not going to stifle growth of something that will be bigger than the industrial revolution.”
Why Is Trump Rebranding AI?
The president says the old name just doesn't fit. “It's not artificial,” he insists. The new branding emphasizes the technology's raw power as the administration pushes for expansion.
But the American people aren't sold yet. A CNN poll found nearly nine in 10 Americans are more concerned than excited about AI surpassing human intelligence. Seven in 10 say the feds aren't doing enough to regulate it.
Trump's answer? Strong leadership, not heavy-handed government control.
“The only control or 'guardrails' that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!”
He added that his administration “has stopped AI 'people' from doing bad, or potentially bad, 'things,' like Dario (Anthropic!), who is now pretending to be a 'perfect little angel' -- and we will continue to do so!”
National Security: The Race Against China
This isn't just about economics. It's about American dominance. Trump's former AI czar, David Sacks, laid it out bluntly: “If the U.S. were to lose the AI race, it would alter the balance of power in the world in a very unfavorable way. So this is something to take very seriously.”
China is pushing hard. Surveys show the Chinese public is far more trusting of AI, with 72% expressing trust compared to just 32% of Americans. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed last week to set up an AI safety channel between the two countries.
Industry Executives Want a Slowdown. Trump Says No.
Some of the loudest warnings come from the industry's own leaders. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay arguing that AI labs should deliberately slow down so safety work can keep pace. He's put the odds of AI going “really, really badly” for humanity at 25%.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk publicly agreed with Amodei's call for a slowdown. But Trump isn't having it.
Interestingly, Amodei and Trump had dinner together Sunday night, just two days before the signing. The Pentagon earlier this year labeled Anthropic a supply chain risk after the company said its tech shouldn't be used for mass surveillance of Americans or fully autonomous weapons.
Palantir CEO Alex Karp was also present Tuesday. He's argued that slowing down might make sense if the U.S. had no adversaries advancing the technology. But with China in the race, he sees no such option.
What Does This Mean for the Future of AI?
The bottom line: America is going full speed ahead. Trump is betting that American ingenuity, free enterprise, and strong leadership will keep the U.S. on top. The name may be new, but the mission is as old as the Republic: win, and win big.
As Trump put it, this technology “will be bigger than the industrial revolution.” And under his watch, America intends to lead it.