US President Donald Trump has taken on one of the most familiar terms in technology. Speaking at the UN General Assembly, he said “artificial intelligence” should be dropped and replaced with “super intelligence,” or SI. The move is already getting attention from the tech industry, AI researchers and world leaders.
This article covers what Trump said, why researchers call the new label misleading, and what it could mean for readers in Pakistan.
What Did Trump Say at the UN?
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, Trump argued that the word “artificial” makes the technology sound fake. He announced that US government documents would now use “super” instead, and said he hoped the rest of the world would follow. His line was, “Welcome to the new world of super intelligence, SI.”
Trump told the assembly that AI is a technology that “artificial” undersold, and voiced hope the rest of the world would adopt the new term. He also joked about whether he has the power to make the world switch. Yahoo!
How the New Name Was Chosen
The rebrand did not come out of nowhere. In the week before the speech, Trump asked his social media followers to vote on alternatives, including “superior intelligence,” “extreme intelligence” and “supreme intelligence.” He and the White House polled the public on X and Truth Social before announcing the change. “Super intelligence” won those informal polls. The Washington Post
Part of a Pattern of Renamings
This is not the first time the administration has changed a name. The Gulf of Mexico became the “Gulf of America” by executive order last year, and Lake Ontario was renamed “Lake America” in August amid a trade dispute with Canada. The AI rebrand fits the same approach: change the label in official US documents and encourage others to follow. Yahoo!
Why Experts Say “Super Intelligence” Is the Wrong Label
The main objection is that “super intelligence” already has a specific meaning in the tech world. It describes a form of AI that exceeds human intelligence, which is the ultimate goal of many frontier AI firms and the biggest worry of those warning about risks to humanity. KSN
The term is closely tied to philosopher Nick Bostrom, who defined it over a decade ago as an intellect that outperforms humans in every domain. It remains entirely hypothetical. Researchers who spoke to the BBC made three points:
- Simon Coghlan (University of Melbourne) called the rebrand misleading. Super intelligence usually implies a system that can improve itself. He doubts SI will stick because it exaggerates what AI can do today.
- Kokil Jaidka (computer scientist) said not every AI platform today shows super intelligence, and that the new name borrows the prestige of a term researchers reserve for a much bigger leap.
- Ben Leong (National University of Singapore) expects professionals to save “SI” for a higher level of AI, since today’s systems don’t feel like they have reached it.
The disagreement is about accuracy, not just style. Today’s chatbots, image generators and coding assistants are powerful, but calling them super intelligent blurs the line between current tools and a system that would outthink humanity.
Reactions: Allies Adopt It, Canada Isn’t Convinced
Some people around Trump adopted the term immediately. According to the BBC, the US chief technology officer posted that the “Super Intelligence (SI) President” had spoken, and the US ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz, told people that it’s now super intelligence.
Canada’s AI minister, Evan Solomon, was less enthusiastic. He said Canadians are not enthusiastic about renaming things, an apparent reference to the Lake Ontario change.
The Real Story: Regulation and the US-China AI Race
The rebrand is only one part of a larger message. Trump used the speech to restate his opposition to regulating AI.
- He said the US “totally rejects” attempts to create a “globalist scheme” to control AI. Türkiye Today
- He compared AI safety warnings to climate change warnings, which he has also called a hoax. Yahoo!
- He said the US cannot afford to give China an advantage, and that whoever “wins AI, wins.”
- He said the US will not stifle the growth of a technology he expects to be bigger than the industrial revolution, though the government will “rein things in” if needed.
The timing matters. Ahead of the UN gathering, leaders of more than 20 mostly European countries called for binding safety measures for advanced AI, but the US and China did not endorse the proposal. The debate has also been fuelled by warnings from AI insiders, including a former researcher at a leading AI lab, that the technology could eventually threaten humanity. Türkiye Today
Trump is also due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, and AI is expected to be a major topic when Xi arrives in Washington for a state visit. The two countries are the biggest players in AI, so the outcome of that meeting will matter more than the name. KSN
Will “SI” Actually Replace “AI”?
Probably not across the industry, for four reasons:
- The term is already taken. Researchers use “superintelligence” for a hypothetical future system. Reusing it for today’s tools would confuse technical discussions.
- AI is deeply embedded. The name appears in job titles, degrees, research papers, products and search queries. Changing it globally would take years, if it happened at all.
- Industry norms don’t follow political announcements. Companies, universities and journals set their own terminology.
- Trump’s own reach is limited. He can change the wording in US government documents, and allies may follow, but other countries and the global tech community are unlikely to.
The more realistic outcome is a split. US government communications may say “SI,” while the industry, academia and media keep using “AI” for today’s systems and “superintelligence” for the hypothetical future.
What It Means for Pakistan’s Tech Community
This may look like a US-only story, but it matters to Pakistani developers, freelancers, students and startups.
- Keep using “AI” in your work. Clients, job platforms and search engines still use “AI,” so don’t change your portfolio, CV or website copy.
- Watch US policy language. If American policy, grant or export documents start saying “SI,” you may need to recognise both terms when reading requirements.
- Expect the debate to shape regulation. The US position against binding global rules, set against the push from European leaders, will influence how other countries, including developing markets, approach their own AI policies.
- Be careful with the word “super.” If you cover or teach AI, note that today’s tools are not super intelligent in the technical sense. That distinction will help you avoid spreading confusion.
Key Takeaways
- Trump announced at the UN that US documents will call AI “super intelligence” (SI).
- The name came from informal social media polls.
- Experts say it is misleading because super intelligence refers to a hypothetical system beyond human ability.
- Allies adopted the term quickly, while Canada’s AI minister was unenthusiastic.
- The speech was also a firm rejection of global AI regulation and a statement that the US must beat China.
- Industry-wide adoption of “SI” looks unlikely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Trump want to rename AI?
He says “artificial” makes the technology sound fake and that “super” is more accurate.
What does super intelligence mean in the tech industry?
It refers to a hypothetical intellect that surpasses humans in all areas, a concept popularised by philosopher Nick Bostrom.
Will the rename apply outside the United States?
The change applies to US government documents. Trump hopes other countries follow, but there is no sign the wider industry will.
Should Pakistani professionals stop using the term AI?
No. “AI” remains the standard term for jobs, clients and search results.
Conclusion
Trump’s rebrand may be a lasting shift in US government language or a short-lived headline. Either way, it shows how much AI has become part of global politics, from regulation to the race with China. Renaming the technology doesn’t change what it can do, but it does show who wants to control the story around it. Techlist Pakistan will keep following how the meeting with Xi Jinping and the global regulation debate develop.