Technology, AI & Cyber
Trump's 'super intelligence' AI rebrand faces doubts
President Donald Trump's effort to rename artificial intelligence as “super intelligence” is facing skepticism from experts, even after he ordered US government use of the term and warned that holdouts would be considered enemies by the White House.
On Thursday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that anyone using “Artificial Intelligence” instead of “Super Intelligence” would be treated as “THE ENEMY,” without saying what consequences would follow. He had promoted the wording at the UN General Assembly in September and later signed an executive order requiring it in federal government communications.
Jean-Pierre Dube, a marketing professor at the University of Chicago, told AFP the White House appears concerned that backlash against AI and data centers could slow a major driver of economic growth and weaken US technological competition with China. But he said a rebrand that mischaracterizes the technology looked like “wishful thinking” and called “super intelligence” a poor choice.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll found 25 percent of voters were satisfied with Trump's approach to AI, while 58 percent were dissatisfied. Ronald Kline, a Cornell University historian, said “super intelligence” suggests going beyond human intelligence, not merely simulating it.
Trump's executive order does not force private companies to change their names or terminology. The term has appeared in communications from Meta, and Elon Musk has supported the change on X.
Update
Experts said Trump's “super intelligence” rebrand is unlikely to improve public attitudes toward AI and could make concerns worse.
Jean-Pierre Dube of the University of Chicago said the rebrand mischaracterizes the technology and appears to be wishful thinking.
A Quinnipiac University poll found 25 percent of voters satisfied with Trump's approach to AI and 58 percent dissatisfied.
Ronald Kline of Cornell University said “super intelligence” suggests going beyond human intelligence.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 October 2026 at 03:00:02 UTC.
Update
Trump wrote that the White House considers anyone using 'Artificial Intelligence' instead of 'Super Intelligence' to be 'THE ENEMY'.
Trump did not say what consequences, if any, would follow.
Trump signed an executive order in late September imposing the use of 'super intelligence' across the US government.
The obligation does not apply to the private sector, but Meta and Elon Musk have used the term.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 October 2026 at 17:10:52 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Trump did not say what consequences would follow for people or organisations considered enemies over the wording.
It remains unclear how widely companies outside the federal government will adopt the term “super intelligence.”
Source
AFP news report published on .