President Trump said on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping seemed to appreciate the rebranding of artificial intelligence as “super intelligence,” a term the Trump administration has now made standard in U.S. communications. Trump made the remark in a Truth Social post, describing his meeting with Xi as “very productive.”
“Tremendous things will be happening. Like almost everyone else, he seemed to like calling the poorly and inaccurately named Artificial Intelligence to a far more accurate and important name, SUPER INTELLIGENCE. That would be ‘SUPER!’ Everyone last night agreed, also,” Trump wrote.
The exchange came days after Trump announced at the United Nations General Assembly that the United States would officially adopt “super intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence” in government documents. The State Department has since instructed its diplomats to use the new terminology in their communications.
Xi, however, did not publicly echo the term during his White House remarks on Thursday. Instead, he stressed the need for responsible development of AI, stating, “We have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good, and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control and serves the well-being of the people.”
The concept of superintelligence is not new; it refers to an AI that surpasses human cognitive abilities. It is both a goal for many frontier AI companies and a source of concern for those who warn about its existential risks.
Trump's push to rename AI has drawn mixed reactions. Some experts argue that the term “super intelligence” is more precise, while others worry it could inflate public expectations or obscure the current limitations of AI technology.
The president's latest comments underscore the close personal rapport he has sought to build with Xi, a dynamic that has been evident in their recent interactions, including the state dinner hosted at the White House. The two leaders are scheduled to meet again later this year, according to officials.
Meanwhile, the administration's terminology shift has already begun to influence policy discussions, with some federal agencies updating their language in official reports and briefings. The move is part of a broader effort by Trump to put an American stamp on global technology debates, a theme he has emphasized in his foreign policy agenda.
As the term gains traction within the administration, it remains to be seen whether other nations will follow suit or continue using the more conventional “artificial intelligence” label. For now, Trump appears confident that the new name will stick, especially if it resonates with key allies like China.
