What Is SI? A Beginner’s Guide to the New Name for AI
In September 2026, a U.S. executive order directed federal agencies to start using 'Super Intelligence' (SI) where they had used 'Artificial Intelligence' (AI). What does that actually mean, and does it change the technology you use? Start here.
In this U.S. policy context, SI is a new government term for technologies already classified as AI. It does not mean every AI tool suddenly became superintelligent.
Why did Trump rename AI to SI?
What Executive Order 14434 says about its own reasons, who it covers, and what it leaves unchanged.
Read the explainerStart with what you want to know.
What happened?
The executive order, the new terminology, and what it actually changes.
Understand the changeSI vs AI
Three terms. Different meanings. A clear, side-by-side comparison.
Compare the termsHow to get started
A practical, low-pressure introduction to using today’s AI tools thoughtfully.
Take your first stepsWhy the distinction matters
In research, technical superintelligence describes a hypothetical system that exceeds human capability across broad domains. That is a much more specific idea than a government terminology change.
Calling an existing AI system “SI” does not establish that it has reached that level. The context behind the word matters.
See how the terms compareNew label. Not a capability certificate.
Technical ASI is a separate conceptQuestions people are asking
What does SI stand for?
SI stands for “Super Intelligence” in the executive order’s terminology. In that U.S. federal policy context, it refers to technologies covered by the existing federal definition of artificial intelligence. This use of the name should not be confused with technical superintelligence, a hypothetical level of capability beyond humans across broad domains.
Did AI actually get renamed everywhere?
No. The order concerns terminology in certain U.S. federal executive-branch communications. It does not establish a universal name for researchers, companies, other governments, or everyday users. Artificial intelligence and AI remain useful terms outside that policy context. When reading a reference to SI, check who is using it and why.
Is SI a new technology?
A change in terminology is not, by itself, a new technology. Under the order’s definition, SI refers back to the existing federal AI definition. The label alone does not demonstrate a new architecture, improved performance, or human-exceeding abilities. Assess a tool by its demonstrated capabilities and limitations, rather than its name.
Can I still use ChatGPT and other AI tools?
The terminology change is not itself a ban on using ChatGPT or other AI tools. Whether you may use a particular tool depends on its terms and any rules at your workplace or school. Keep checking outputs, protect sensitive information, and do not assume a new label makes a tool more reliable.
You don’t need to master the terminology to take a thoughtful first step.
Get startedSources & last checked
This independent guide separates policy language from technical capability. We prioritize official documents, identify secondary reporting, and do not endorse a political position or a product. The check date is fixed, not an automatic freshness claim.