Trump tells UN he wants to rebrand AI as “super intelligence”

During a September 22 speech at the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump said he wants to “officially” change the name of artificial intelligence to “super intelligence.” He argued that the word “artificial” makes the technology sound fake or unreliable, and that a new label could better capture its power and promise.

The remark came in a broader address focused on the war with Iran, national security and economic resilience. Trump again stressed that the United States must not fall behind China in the race to develop advanced AI, warning that excessive regulation could slow growth and weaken U.S. competitiveness. At the same time, he acknowledged that governments will have to deal with AI‑related risks.

The proposed rebranding has no legal force—international agreements and domestic laws still refer to “artificial intelligence.” But raising the idea in front of world leaders signals how central AI has become to U.S. geopolitical messaging. It may also influence how the public and policymakers talk about future systems that could far surpass today’s tools in capability.