In a recent policy move, President Donald Trump announced a plan to rename artificial intelligence as “super intelligence.” He warned that using the older term would mark individuals as adversaries, a stance reported by The Verge. An executive order was issued directing federal agencies to adopt the new terminology, signaling a broader governmental push to reshape the discourse around advanced machine systems.
Elon Musk responded swiftly, stating that SpaceX’s internal artificial-intelligence division would be renamed SpaceXSI to reflect the president’s terminology. The change was announced within hours of the executive order and aligns with Musk’s history of public alignment with governmental policy. By adopting the “SI” suffix, SpaceX signals compliance while continuing its broader AI research programs.
Marc Benioff of Salesforce announced that the company’s AIForce unit would become SIForce, mirroring the president’s preferred label. The rebranding was presented as a quick adaptation to the new policy environment. Benioff’s statement emphasized the need for industry leaders to support the administration’s effort to standardize terminology around advanced computational technologies.
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang attended the summit where the executive order was unveiled and publicly endorsed the “super intelligence” framing, arguing that perceived dangers of AI are overstated. Following the event, Nvidia pledged a $1 billion investment earmarked for scientific advancement, explicitly including research labeled as super intelligence. Huang’s positioning suggests a strategic effort to align Nvidia’s massive GPU portfolio with forthcoming governmental priorities.
Microsoft chief Satya Nadella also signaled alignment, noting that the company would adopt the super intelligence terminology across its product suite. In a recent interview, Nadella warned that all AI models should be assumed compromised, a view that dovetails with the administration’s call for heightened scrutiny. By embracing the rebrand, Microsoft positions itself to cooperate with potential regulatory frameworks emerging from the executive order.
The coordinated rebranding effort reflects a broader trend of Silicon Valley seeking favor with the Trump administration during his second term, after a more confrontational stance in the earlier presidency. Industry leaders appear to view alignment as a safeguard against policy backlash and a means to influence forthcoming standards. Observers note that the rapid adoption of the president’s terminology may signal deeper strategic calculations beyond mere semantics.