On October 8, 2026, President Trump posted on Truth Social that the White House considers anyone who uses the term "Artificial Intelligence" instead of "Super Intelligence" to be "THE ENEMY!" (POLITICO). The post follows Executive Order 14434, "Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence," which directs federal agencies to use "Super Intelligence" and "SI" in place of "Artificial Intelligence" and "AI."
If you run a business, the natural question is: does this change anything for us? The short answer is very little, unless you sell to federal agencies. Below, we walk through what the order says, what it doesn't say, and what (if anything) to do about it.
What the Super Intelligence executive order actually does
President Trump signed Executive Order 14434 on September 29, 2026. It was published in the Federal Register on October 2, 2026. You can read it on whitehouse.gov and in the Federal Register.
The order does three main things:
Changes the terms agencies use. Section 2(a) says executive departments and agencies "shall use 'Super Intelligence' and 'SI' in place of 'Artificial Intelligence' and 'AI' in official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents, and other non-statutory documents within the executive branch."
Reuses the existing legal definition of AI. Section 3(a) says "Super Intelligence" and "SI" mean the technologies and systems covered by the term "artificial intelligence" as defined in . In other words, SI covers exactly the same technologies the legal definition of AI already covers.
Starts a 60-day task. Section 3(b) directs the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology to submit proposed legislative language for a federal definition of "Super Intelligence" within 60 days (around late November 2026). That proposal is meant to address whether the new definition should modify, expand, or supersede the statutory definition of AI.
What the order doesn't do
Here is what the order does not do, based on the full text:
No penalties or enforcement. The order contains no penalty or enforcement provision. Section 4(c) adds that it creates no right or benefit enforceable at law by any party.
No rule for private companies. The order is addressed to "executive departments and agencies." The order itself doesn't set any rule for private companies, states, or the public.
No rewriting of old documents. Section 2(b) says: "Nothing in this section requires the alteration of previously issued regulations, Presidential actions, contracts, grants, or other historical documents."
No change to the legal definition. The statutory definition of AI in 15 U.S.C. 9401(3) stays the same. Changing it would take an act of Congress. The order only asks for proposed language.
The Truth Social post is a statement, not a legal instrument, so it doesn't create any legal requirement either.
What your company should do (almost nothing)
For most businesses, the practical answer is simple: keep calling your tools whatever your team and your customers already understand. If your people say "AI," your training materials, policies, and product pages can keep saying "AI." Nothing in the order asks you to rename anything.
If you sell to federal agencies
Federal contractors have a little more to think about, though still not much:
Expect to see "SI" in new agency documents. Since agencies are now told to use the new term in public communications and other documents, you may start seeing "SI" in new agency materials, possibly including solicitations.
Mirror the agency's wording. When an agency document uses "SI," it's reasonable to match that language in your proposals and deliverables for that agency.
Follow your contracting officer's guidance. If you're unsure whether a proposal or deliverable needs updated terms, ask. Agency direction is your best guide.
Watch for the 60-day definition proposal. If that proposal suggests changing the definition of SI, and Congress later adopts it, that could matter for future work.
To be clear, the order doesn't say procurement rules have changed, and existing contracts and grants don't need to be rewritten (Section 2(b)). As always, this isn't legal advice. If you have specific questions about a contract, check with your contracting officer or counsel.
AI superintelligence vs. everyday AI: the gap, in plain terms
Here's where two meanings of the word come apart.
Traditionally, "superintelligence" has a specific meaning. Nick Bostrom, in his 2014 book Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, defined it as "any intellect that greatly exceeds the cognitive performance of humans in virtually all domains of interest." That is the traditional meaning of artificial superintelligence: an intellect far beyond human ability across the board.
The order's definition of SI is different. It points to the existing legal definition of AI, which describes "a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual environments." That definition covers the tools many teams use today, such as chat assistants and copilots.
So the label changed for federal agencies. The technology on your laptop did not. When you see "SI" in a federal document, it currently means the same thing "AI" means in the statute. It doesn't describe the far more capable kind of intellect Bostrom wrote about.
FAQ
What is superintelligence?
Traditionally, superintelligence means an intellect that greatly exceeds human cognitive performance in virtually all areas, as described by Nick Bostrom in Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies (2014). Under Executive Order 14434, though, "Super Intelligence" is defined as the same systems already covered by the legal definition of AI.
Is "SI" replacing "AI"?
Within the federal executive branch, yes, to the extent permitted by law, for official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents, and other non-statutory documents. The order doesn't change any laws, and the statutory definition still uses "artificial intelligence." Private companies, states, and the public aren't covered by the order and can keep using "AI."
Does this affect my business?
For most companies, very little. The order is addressed to federal agencies, contains no penalties, and doesn't require private companies to rename products, marketing, or internal tools.
Do federal contractors need to change anything?
Existing contracts don't need to be rewritten. For new work, mirror the agency's wording and follow your contracting officer's guidance. You may see "SI" in new agency documents, and it's worth watching for the 60-day definition proposal.
Is the AI my team uses today superintelligence?
Not in the traditional sense. Today's workplace tools fit the existing legal definition of AI, which the order now also calls SI. They are not superintelligence as Bostrom described it.
Whatever you call it, skills are what count
"AI" or "SI," the tools your team uses this week are the same ones they used last week. What matters is whether your people know how to use them well, safely, and with good judgment.
That's the work we focus on. If you want your team to build practical, responsible habits with these tools, take a look at our Corporate AI Training and our hands-on Team AI Workshops. We'd be glad to help, whatever name the tools go by.
Gianni D'Alerta
Co-founder of Purple Horizons and AI Innovation Fellow at FIU's Center for Leadership. Transforms complex tech into business breakthroughs.
