US President Donald Trump proposed renaming artificial intelligence (AI) to 'super intelligence' during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22, 2026. Trump stated that the term AI makes the technology 'sound fake' and expressed a desire for the new terminology to be adopted in US documents and globally. He mentioned that he had conducted polls on his social media platform, Truth Social, where 'super intelligence' emerged as the preferred term among his followers.
Experts have expressed skepticism about the adoption of the term within the technology industry. Simon Coghlan, a digital ethics lecturer at The University of Melbourne, described the rebranding as 'misleading' since 'super intelligence' typically refers to systems that can improve themselves, a concept that remains hypothetical. Computer scientist Kokil Jaidka noted that the new name could misrepresent the current capabilities of AI.
Despite the skepticism, some individuals in Trump's circle have begun using the term. US Chief Technology Officer Ethan Klein referred to Trump as the 'Super Intelligence President' on social media, while UN Ambassador Michael Waltz supported the new terminology.
In contrast, Canada's minister of AI, Evan Solomon, commented that Canadians are not enthusiastic about renaming established terms. The discussion around AI comes amid calls from tech executives and researchers for government regulation of the industry due to concerns about its potential dangers, which Trump has dismissed as 'a hoax.' He emphasized the importance of maintaining US leadership in AI technology, stating that 'whoever wins AI, wins.' Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon, with AI expected to be a topic of discussion.