California Gov. Gavin Newsom has rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to replace the term “Artificial Intelligence” with “Super Intelligence” across the federal government, signing his own executive order directing California agencies to continue using the traditional term Artificial Intelligence, or AI.
Trump signed an executive order on September 29 instructing federal departments and agencies to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” instead of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” in official correspondence, websites, reports and other non-statutory documents. The White House said the new terminology better reflects what it described as the rapidly expanding capabilities of modern AI systems.
California Says It Will Keep Calling It AI
Newsom responded a day later with an executive order of his own.
His order directs California state agencies to continue using the term Artificial Intelligence, effectively separating California’s terminology from the new language adopted by the Trump administration.
Newsom’s office described the order as one that “permanently” declares Artificial Intelligence to be called Artificial Intelligence in California.
More Than a Fight Over a Name
The disagreement comes amid a broader policy divide over how advanced AI systems should be governed.
The Trump administration has emphasized rapid development, innovation and U.S. leadership in increasingly powerful AI systems. Its September 29 order argues that the term “Super Intelligence” better communicates the technology’s potential in areas including science, medicine and economic development.
California, meanwhile, has been expanding state-level AI regulation and oversight.
Newsom recently signed measures addressing workplace use of AI, deepfakes, healthcare applications and independent safety reviews. His administration is also examining stronger safeguards for frontier AI systems, including independent audits and potential mechanisms for shutting down systems in serious safety emergencies.
Two Governments, Two Names
Trump’s executive order applies to the federal executive branch. It does not require California or other states to adopt the same terminology.
That means federal agencies will increasingly refer to the technology as “Super Intelligence,” while California agencies will continue calling it “Artificial Intelligence.”
For now, the unusual dispute has created a situation in which the same technology could officially carry different names depending on which level of government is talking about it.
Sources: White House, Office of Gov. Gavin Newsom, Forbes
By NJ RADAR Team