Trump Renames AI as "Super Intelligence" at the UN General Assembly
President Donald Trump announced during his address to the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2026, that US government documents will now refer to artificial intelligence (AI) as "super intelligence." He justified this rebranding by arguing that "artificial" made AI sound inauthentic.
A Controversial Move
While the name change garnered headlines, Trump's actual policy stance was less about branding and more about rejecting international regulation and encouraging AI development without constraints. This comes after Geoffrey Hinton warned Congress just a week earlier that they had approximately a year to act regarding AI.
Superintelligence Defined
The term "super intelligence" is not new in AI research, typically referring to a hypothetical system surpassing human capabilities across all domains. However, it has become a popular pitch for tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, who discussed "personal superintelligence" in an essay this summer. Meta and OpenAI also use the term to describe their visions of future AI.
Regulatory Opposition
Trump's announcement contrasted with recent efforts to regulate AI at both the international and national levels. The UN has been working on AI governance through the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, while Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar introduced the "Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act" to outlaw certain types of superintelligent systems.
Encouraging AI Development
In his speech, Trump emphasized that the US would promote AI development and "not rein it in." He also rejected global control over AI, putting the US at odds with ongoing UN efforts to establish AI governance guidelines. The administration has generally advocated for voluntary oversight rather than strict regulation of AI.