President directs federal agencies to say Super Intelligence in place of artificial intelligence
As of our last check on November 3, 2026, this has been signed by the President. It may need agency action before it affects employers.
We check the Federal Register daily for later actions. We check federal court opinions for rulings on published rules weekly, on Mondays. A ruling can take time to reach us, so not finding one here does not mean there is none.
In short
- What changed
- Executive Order 14434, signed September 29, 2026, directs federal agencies to use Super Intelligence (SI) in place of artificial intelligence (AI) in their correspondence, public communications, websites, reports and policy documents. For now, the new terms mean the same technologies as the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence.
- Who's affected
- The order directs federal executive branch agencies, not employers. It creates no duties for private, state or local employers.
- What to do
- This order creates no new duties for employers. If your team tracks federal materials on AI tools at work, consider adding Super Intelligence and SI to the terms you search for.
What changed
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From the sourceSec. 1. Purpose
the executive branch shall use the terms ``Super Intelligence'' and ``SI'' in place of ``Artificial Intelligence'' and ``AI''
The order makes it the administration's policy that the executive branch uses the terms Super Intelligence and SI in place of Artificial Intelligence and AI, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
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From the sourceSec. 2(a)
executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall use ``Super Intelligence'' and ``SI'' in place of ``Artificial Intelligence'' and ``AI'' in official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents, and other non-statutory documents within the executive branch.
Federal agencies are directed to use the new terms in official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents and other non-statutory documents.
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From the sourceSec. 2(b)
Nothing in this section requires the alteration of previously issued regulations, Presidential actions, contracts, grants, or other historical documents.
The order does not require changes to previously issued regulations, Presidential actions, contracts, grants or other historical documents.
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From the sourceSec. 3(a)
the terms ``Super Intelligence'' and ``SI'' mean the technologies and systems encompassed by the term ``artificial intelligence'' as defined in section 9401(3) of title 15, United States Code.
Also: Sec. 3(a)
This definition shall govern the implementation of this order unless and until superseded by subsequent Presidential action consistent with applicable law or by an Act of Congress.
For the order's purposes, Super Intelligence and SI mean the technologies covered by the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence in title 15 of the United States Code, until a later Presidential action or an Act of Congress replaces that definition.
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From the sourceSec. 3(b)
Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST), in consultation with the heads of other agencies as the APST deems appropriate, shall submit to the President proposed legislative language
Also: Sec. 3(b)(i)
an assessment of whether, and to what extent, the definition of ``Super Intelligence'' and ``SI'' should modify, expand upon, or otherwise supersede the existing statutory definition of ``artificial intelligence''
Within 60 days of the order, the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology is to submit proposed legislative language to the President for a federal definition of Super Intelligence, including whether it should modify, expand or replace the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence.
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From the sourceSec. 4(c)
This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party
The order states that it creates no right or benefit enforceable at law by any party.
Who is affected
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From the sourceSec. 2(a)
executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall use ``Super Intelligence'' and ``SI'' in place of ``Artificial Intelligence'' and ``AI''
The order directs executive departments and agencies of the federal government.
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Our analysisSec. 2(a)
official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents, and other non-statutory documents within the executive branch.
Employers are not addressed by the order and have no duties under it. The order governs only the wording federal agencies use.
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Our analysisSec. 2(a)
official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents, and other non-statutory documents within the executive branch.
Employers that follow federal agency materials on artificial intelligence may see new agency documents and web pages use Super Intelligence or SI where they would have said AI.
What it means in practice
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Our analysisSec. 3(a)
the terms ``Super Intelligence'' and ``SI'' mean the technologies and systems encompassed by the term ``artificial intelligence'' as defined in section 9401(3) of title 15, United States Code.
The rename on its own does not change which technologies are covered, because the new terms take the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence.
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Our analysisSec. 2(b)
Nothing in this section requires the alteration of previously issued regulations, Presidential actions, contracts, grants, or other historical documents.
Existing federal regulations, contracts and grants that use artificial intelligence or AI are not required to be reworded, so their terms stay as written.
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Our analysisSec. 3(a)
unless and until superseded by subsequent Presidential action consistent with applicable law or by an Act of Congress.
Also: Sec. 3(b)(i)
should modify, expand upon, or otherwise supersede the existing statutory definition of ``artificial intelligence''
The definition could change later: the order asks for proposed legislation that may expand or replace the statutory definition, which would take a later Presidential action or an Act of Congress.
What to do
Required
There is no employer obligation yet. The order directs federal agencies to change the terms they use and asks the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology for proposed legislation on a definition. Watch for any later Presidential action or Act of Congress that changes the definition of artificial intelligence.
Worth considering
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Our suggestionSec. 2(a)
executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall use ``Super Intelligence'' and ``SI'' in place of ``Artificial Intelligence'' and ``AI'' in official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents, and other non-statutory documents within the executive branch.
Consider adding Super Intelligence and SI to the search terms and alerts you use to track federal agency materials on artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, since new agency documents are to use those terms.
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Our suggestionSec. 3(a)
the terms ``Super Intelligence'' and ``SI'' mean the technologies and systems encompassed by the term ``artificial intelligence'' as defined in section 9401(3) of title 15, United States Code.
Consider leaving the AI wording in your internal policies and HR technology documentation as it is for now: the order applies to executive branch documents and keeps the existing statutory definition.
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Our suggestionSec. 3(b)
Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST), in consultation with the heads of other agencies as the APST deems appropriate, shall submit to the President proposed legislative language
Consider watching for any later Presidential action or legislation that adopts a new definition of Super Intelligence, since it could change which technologies federal rules on AI cover.
Open questions
The source leaves these open. We'll update this record if a later document answers them.
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Will federal agencies reword guidance and web pages they already published about artificial intelligence, or use the new terms only in new documents?
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Will the proposed legislative definition of Super Intelligence be made public, and would it change which technologies federal workplace rules on artificial intelligence cover?
History
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Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence Source (opens in a new tab)