California Governor Mocks Trump Over Renaming of AI to ‘Super Intelligence’

California Governor Gavin Newsom has responded sarcastically to US President Donald Trump’s decision to rename artificial intelligence as “Super Intelligence” by issuing an executive order directing state agencies to continue using the terms “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI.”

Newsom announced the move on X, joking that he had “permanently” declared the technology to be Artificial Intelligence in California.

“I just signed an executive order permanently declaring Artificial Intelligence ‘Artificial Intelligence’ in California. You’re welcome, America,” Newsom wrote.

The executive order directs all California agencies and departments under the governor’s authority to use “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI,” regardless of any different terminology adopted by the federal government, unless otherwise required by law.

The order appears to be a satirical response to Trump’s recent decision to replace the terms “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” with “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in federal government communications.

Trump announced the terminology change during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22. He argued that the word “artificial” made intelligence sound fake and said US government documents would henceforth use “Super Intelligence,” abbreviated as “SI.”

Newsom’s order also criticised the idea that changing the name of the technology could distract from concerns surrounding AI safety and security.

The California governor said the state remains a major centre for artificial intelligence innovation while pursuing measures related to AI safety, security and consumer privacy.

Trump’s renaming decision followed a social media poll in which he asked followers to choose from alternative names, including “Superior Intelligence,” “Extreme Intelligence” and “Supreme Intelligence,” before settling on “Super Intelligence.”

The Trump administration has since moved to formalise the terminology change, with reports that federal agencies have been directed to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in official communications.

Newsom’s order means California agencies under his authority will continue using the conventional terms, creating a terminology difference between the federal government and the state of California.

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