Key Facts

- On September 29, 2026, the President issued an executive order titled **Inaugurating The Era Of Super Intelligence** that directs a terminology shift within the executive branch [1].

- **Section 2(a)** requires every executive department and agency to use the terms **Super Intelligence** and the abbreviation **SI** in place of **Artificial Intelligence** and **AI** in all official correspondence, public communications, website content, reports, policy documents, and any other non‑statutory material [1].

- **Section 2(b)** clarifies that the order does **not** compel amendment of existing regulations, contracts, grants, or other historical documents; the directive applies only to future, non‑statutory outputs [1].

- **Section 3(a)** defines *Super Intelligence* and *SI* as “the technologies and systems encompassed by the term artificial intelligence as defined in section 9401(3) of title 15, United States Code.” This ties the new terminology to the existing statutory definition of AI until Congress acts otherwise [1].

- **Section 3(b)** tasks the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST) with delivering, within **60 days** of the order’s issuance, a draft legislative proposal that would establish a federal definition of Super Intelligence and assess how that definition might interact with the current AI definition [1].

- The order’s purpose clause frames the change as a reflection of the United States’ leadership in a “new technological revolution in intelligence,” noting that contemporary systems “amplify human ingenuity and unlock new forms of creativity” [1].

Mandate Shifts Federal Terminology

The executive order explicitly instructs every federal department and agency to replace the historic acronym **AI** with **SI** in all non‑statutory communications. By anchoring the new terminology to the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence (15 U.S.C. § 9401(3)), the order avoids an immediate legal redefinition while allowing the administration to shape the public narrative around emerging technologies.

The order’s **Purpose** section asserts that America "stands at the forefront of a new technological revolution in intelligence" and that the "extraordinary technologies being pioneered by American innovators" now exceed the original conception of artificial intelligence. It argues that the term **Super Intelligence** more accurately captures the "promise, potential, and rapidly advancing capabilities" of these systems and therefore should replace the older terminology in federal discourse [1].

The **Implementation** provision (Section 2) is narrowly tailored: it applies to *official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents, and other non‑statutory documents* produced by executive agencies. The order expressly exempts “previously issued regulations, Presidential actions, contracts, grants, or other historical documents” from mandatory revision, acknowledging the practical limits of retroactive re‑labeling [1].

The **Definition** provision (Section 3) does not create a new legal definition of the underlying technology. Instead, it states that, for the purposes of this order, *Super Intelligence* and *SI* are synonymous with the technologies already captured by the statutory definition of artificial intelligence at 15 U.S.C. § 9401(3). That statutory definition describes AI as “the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision‑making, and translation between languages” (full text not reproduced here) [1]. By referencing this existing definition, the order ensures that the terminology shift does not conflict with current law.

Strategic Rationale Behind Rebranding

The order’s **Purpose** clause frames the terminology change as a means of aligning federal language with what the administration characterizes as a qualitative leap in capability. The President emphasizes that modern systems “do much more than imitate or automate discrete aspects of human intelligence” and that they “amplify human ingenuity and unlock new forms of creativity.” [1] The administration therefore concludes that the term **Super Intelligence** more precisely reflects the transformative nature of these technologies and the opportunities they present for the American people.

The record does not address any anticipated commercial or branding benefits for private firms, nor does it discuss potential cost implications for federal agencies beyond the scope of the order’s language. The order also does not contain any language about how private‑sector contracts might be affected, nor does it provide guidance on future procurement language or licensing practices.

Practical Effects Across Agencies

The executive order obligates each department and agency to *use* the new terms in all non‑statutory outputs moving forward. The order does not prescribe a specific implementation mechanism—such as the issuance of agency‑wide memoranda, training sessions, or the creation of oversight offices. Consequently, the record does not specify how agencies will manage the transition or whether they will establish dedicated compliance projects.

Because the order exempts existing regulations, contracts, and grants from mandatory amendment, agencies are not required to revisit historical documents. The directive therefore focuses on *future* communications, which may include press releases, research briefings, policy analyses, and public‑facing website updates. The order does not mention any changes to export‑control statutes, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or other licensing frameworks; those areas remain unaffected by the terminology shift as far as the order is concerned.

The administrative requirement for the APST to submit a draft legislative proposal within 60 days creates a clear timeline for the executive branch to propose a statutory definition of Super Intelligence. The order states that the proposal should include an assessment of whether the new definition should modify, expand, or supersede the existing AI definition, as well as any conforming amendments to statutory references [1].

The record does not indicate whether the proposed legislation will be mandatory for the private sector, nor does it discuss potential obligations for contractors, grant recipients, or other external stakeholders. Any such obligations would depend on subsequent congressional action, which is not addressed in the order itself.

What to Watch

- **APST Legislative Draft** – The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology must submit a draft legislative language proposal within **60 days** of the order’s issuance (approximately **November 28, 2026**) [1].

- **Agency Guidance** – While the order does not prescribe a specific implementation plan, agencies may issue internal guidance, style‑guide updates, or other administrative instructions to ensure compliance. Monitoring agency communications will reveal how the transition is being managed.

- **Congressional Response** – The order explicitly calls for legislative action to define Super Intelligence. Congressional hearings, amendments, or a vote on the proposed definition will shape whether the terminology shift becomes codified in law.

- **Legal Interpretation** – The phrase “to the maximum extent permitted by law” may be subject to judicial or congressional interpretation. Any challenges or clarifications regarding the scope of the order could affect its practical reach.

- **Impact on Future Documents** – Because the order applies to all *non‑statutory* federal outputs, future procurement solicitations, grant announcements, research reports, and public statements are expected to use **Super Intelligence** and **SI** instead of **Artificial Intelligence** and **AI**. Observers should track how agencies reflect the new terminology in their public materials.

*The record does not address the potential costs to agencies, the creation of new oversight offices, or any anticipated effects on private‑sector contracts or export‑control licensing.*