Trump renames AI 'Super Intelligence' in US govt comms: What Nigerians need to know

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this week directing federal agencies to replace 'Artificial Intelligence' and 'AI' with 'Super Intelligence' and 'SI' in all new official communications, websites, reports and policy documents. The change applies immediately to new materials but does not require altering existing regulations, contracts or historical documents containing the old terms.

According to the report, Trump's administration argues modern AI systems have surpassed the original concept of artificial intelligence, now amplifying human creativity and capabilities in ways that warrant the 'super' terminology. The order also directs his Science and Technology advisor to work with agencies to propose legislative language defining 'Super Intelligence' within 60 days.

For Nigerians engaging with US technology sectors, academic institutions or international partnerships, this means official US government sources will use 'SI' instead of 'AI' in new publications from late September 2026 onward. Researchers citing US policy documents, tech companies negotiating with American firms, or students referencing US educational materials should note this terminology shift to avoid confusion.

The change does not affect private sector usage or international standards—Nigerian businesses and developers can continue using 'AI' locally unless specifically required by US government partners. Will this terminology shift create unnecessary complexity in Nigeria-US tech collaborations, or will it clarify discussions about advanced systems' evolving capabilities?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/30/trump-orders-us-agencies-to-rename-ai-super-intelligence/