President Trump Says He's Renaming AI to 'Super Intelligence', 'It's a Much Better Name'

President Donald Trump has declared he is renaming artificial intelligence to "super intelligence," arguing the current term is confusing and calling for stronger national security controls over the technology.

President Donald Trump has announced he is renaming artificial intelligence to "super intelligence," saying the current term is misleading and that the new name better reflects the technology's power and potential.

"We're going to change the name from artificial intelligence to super intelligence," Trump said during a White House event on Monday, September 22, 2026. "It's a much better name. It's a much more accurate name."

President Trump argued that "artificial" sounds negative and fails to convey the transformative nature of the technology. "Artificial means fake. It means not real. And there's nothing fake about what's happening. This is real, and it's super." He did not provide further details on whether the name change would apply to federal agencies, legislation, or government documents.

A Familiar Pattern of Renaming

The announcement fits a pattern of President Trump renaming landmarks, with "super intelligence" marking his latest branding move. Recent examples include renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" amid the US-Canada trade war, the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," and suggesting the Strait of Hormuz be called "Trump Strait."

His remarks follow a series of moves by his administration to shape AI policy. In July, Trump outlined a plan to make it easier for US companies to export AI tools, and he has spoken with technology executives at the White House on several occasions.

"We're going to keep this technology under American control. We're not going to let anyone else have it. We're going to have super intelligence, and we're going to have it here," Trump said.

The Real Policy Battleground

While the renaming grabbed attention, the substance of the debate lies elsewhere. Former Google DeepMind researcher Bilal Chughtai resigned this month, warning that AI could "kill all humans" and that time may be running out to avoid that outcome. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for a slowdown in advanced AI development, winning rare backing from Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. At the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, world leaders are expected to discuss international AI governance, though divisions remain over whether regulation should be led by national governments or multilateral bodies.

Industry Reaction

Tech executives largely refrained from public comment on Trump's renaming announcement. Some analysts noted that while the branding change is unlikely to alter the industry's terminology, it could signal the administration's intent to play a more assertive role in shaping the AI narrative.

"The name change is symbolic. What matters is whether the administration follows through with a clear, consistent policy framework that supports innovation while addressing genuine safety and security risks," a tech policy analyst said.

It remains unclear whether Trump intends the term "super intelligence" to become official government language. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about whether federal agencies would be directed to adopt the new term.

Here is the question this announcement raises. President Trump says he's renaming artificial intelligence to "super intelligence" because the current term is "not accurate." When a president attempts to rebrand a scientific field through executive branding, does it reflect a serious effort to shape the conversation or simply the latest example of a leader who believes he can rename anything by decree?

FAQ:

Q: What has President Trump renamed?
A: President Trump has announced he is renaming artificial intelligence to "super intelligence," arguing that "artificial" sounds negative and misleading.

Q: When did Trump make the announcement?
A: Trump made the announcement during a White House event on Monday, September 22, 2026.

Q: Will the "super intelligence" name change apply to government agencies and legislation?
A: It is unclear. Trump did not provide details on whether the name change would apply to federal agencies, legislation, or government documents.

Q: What other things has Trump renamed?
A: Trump has renamed Lake Ontario to "Lake America," the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," and suggested the Strait of Hormuz be called "Trump Strait."

Q: What is the AI policy debate that the renaming has overshadowed?
A: Former Google DeepMind researcher Bilal Chughtai warned that AI could "kill all humans." Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for a slowdown in AI development, and world leaders are discussing international AI governance at the UN General Assembly.

Q: What did tech industry analysts say about the renaming?
A: Analysts said the name change is symbolic and what matters is whether the administration follows through with a clear, consistent policy framework.