Donald Trump Proposes Rebranding Artificial Intelligence to Super Intelligence

Ender Öztürk

September 23, 2026

President Donald Trump recently sparked a significant debate within the global technology sector by proposing a formal name change for artificial intelligence. During his address at the United Nations General Assembly in late September 2026, the President argued that the term “artificial” implies a sense of deception, suggesting instead that the technology should be referred to as “super intelligence” or “SI.” While no official executive order has been enacted to mandate this shift, the proposal has ignited widespread discussion regarding the semantic framing of advanced computing systems and the potential implications of such a change on public perception and industry standards.

Public Sentiment Shapes the Rebranding Debate

Following his initial comments, the President expanded his campaign for a terminology shift by launching polls on platforms such as Truth Social and X. The debate centered on whether the public preferred “super intelligence” or “superior intelligence.” The results revealed a slim margin in favor of the former. Trump attributed the lower performance of the “superior intelligence” option to the general public’s historically critical perception of the Supreme Court, drawing a parallel between the two concepts in his commentary.

This initiative follows a series of administrative actions aimed at altering geographical and institutional naming conventions. Previously, the administration moved to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and proposed renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake of America.” The focus on “SI” as a potential acronym for new technology is the latest example of this broader strategy of semantic realignment within the executive branch.

Technology Experts Question the Proposed Changes

The academic and technical community has responded with skepticism, noting that “super intelligence” is already a well-established term in computer science. It specifically refers to hypothetical future AI systems that possess intellect far beyond that of the most gifted human minds. Experts argue that adopting this term for current, less advanced systems could lead to severe conceptual confusion and dilute the meaning of existing scientific literature.

Social media users have also been quick to mock the proposal, pointing out that the acronym “SI” could be easily confused with the popular sports magazine Sports Illustrated. Furthermore, some critics suggested that the term “super intelligence” could be interpreted as a political branding effort rather than a technical definition. There are also concerns regarding how such a mandate might impact the legal landscape, particularly for corporations currently holding trademarks under the standard artificial intelligence terminology.

Despite the controversy, the administration continues to push for a shift in how these digital tools are perceived. While proponents argue that the name change helps acknowledge the impressive capabilities of the technology, critics maintain that the government should prioritize addressing systemic issues such as workforce displacement and the environmental impact of data centers rather than focusing on branding exercises. As the debate unfolds, the industry remains in a state of uncertainty regarding whether this shift will ever be formalized into law.

We are curious to hear your thoughts on this potential shift in terminology. Do you believe that renaming artificial intelligence to super intelligence would change the way we interact with these tools, or is it merely a superficial change that ignores the real challenges of the industry? Share your perspective in the comments section below.