Donald Trump Vows to Ban the Term 'Artificial Intelligence' in Federal Documents

Trump Seeks Terminology Change

President Donald Trump announced plans to officially ban the term "artificial intelligence" (AI) in federal documents and other official materials, favoring the term "super intelligence" (SI) instead. The announcement was made via social media, where the president criticized existing terminology as inaccurate.

Key details of the announcement include:

• Proposed Ban: The administration stated intentions to ban the term "AI/Artificial Intelligence" in relevant official documents.
• Preferred Term: The White House is pushing for "super intelligence" (SI), a phrase previously highlighted in an executive order signed on September 29.
• Industry and Media Response: While some technology executives have used the preferred phrasing, mainstream media outlets and public documents have largely retained the decades-old term "AI."

Context and Enforcement Questions

Legal experts note that the executive branch's authority to mandate linguistic changes outside federal agencies remains limited. Past attempts by the administration to enforce terminology changes have faced legal scrutiny. For instance, a previous dispute involving geographical naming conventions led to a federal lawsuit and a judicial ruling concerning First Amendment protections, which is currently under appeal.

Practical Implications and Verification

• Official Directives: Public stakeholders can review official White House executive orders and agency guidance to track changes in federal terminology.
• Media Standards: Major news organizations continue to independently evaluate style guide terminology based on widespread common usage.
• Verification: Citizens and researchers should consult official government publication portals and primary legal filings to monitor the implementation status of executive orders.