Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence · US executive order, signed 29 Sept 2026

The super intelligence executive order, explained

What the order renaming AI actually says, who has to follow it, and the deadline coming up next.

Updated 3 November 2026

Short answer

The order tells the US executive branch to use "Super Intelligence" and "SI" instead of "Artificial Intelligence" and "AI" wherever the law allows. It reuses the existing legal definition of AI, creates no new rules for the industry, and asks for a proposed legal definition of SI within 60 days.

The key facts


Title	Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence
Signed	29 September 2026
Covers	Departments and agencies of the US executive branch
Applies to	Official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents and other non-statutory documents
Definition of SI	The technologies covered by "artificial intelligence" in 15 U.S.C. § 9401(3), until a new definition is set
Next step	Proposed legislation defining SI due to the President within 60 days (around 28 November 2026)

What it requires

Agencies must use "Super Intelligence" and "SI" in place of "Artificial Intelligence" and "AI" to the maximum extent permitted by law. The order goes further than a preference: it says the executive branch will not acknowledge the old terms in any applicable setting.

The White House's stated reason is that the technology now does more than imitate or automate parts of human intelligence, and that "artificial" undersells it.

What it doesn't do

It doesn't change the law. Statutes still say artificial intelligence, so agencies will juggle both terms for now.
It doesn't rewrite the past. Agencies don't have to amend existing regulations, contracts, grants or historical documents.
It doesn't regulate the industry. The order sets terminology. It doesn't create a new regulatory framework.
It doesn't bind anyone outside the executive branch. Companies, courts, Congress, states and other countries are free to keep saying AI.

The definition deadline

The order asks the President's science and technology adviser to send draft legislation within 60 days. It should propose a federal legal definition of SI and the changes needed to existing laws that say "artificial intelligence". That's a proposal to the President, not a law: Congress would still have to pass it.

What else happened on the same day

The White House Accord on Super Intelligence. A voluntary agreement between the President and the heads of six major AI companies, setting out four layers of internal controls and audits. The signed text is titled Joint Commitment on Frontier Responsibilities. It isn't legally binding. Its signature page misspelt "United States" as "Unites States".
America.gov. A separate order directed the General Services Administration to set up America.gov, a single front door to federal services.

What came after

In early October the President announced a Super Intelligence Force to coordinate federal work on the technology. It's led by the Director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton, alongside FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Pentagon technology chief Emil Michael and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor. See who has switched to SI for agencies putting the order into practice.