President Donald Trump has announced that artificial intelligence will now be officially referred to as super intelligence across the federal government. The rebranding follows a voluntary agreement signed by top technology executives pledging corporate self regulation instead of government mandates. But critics on Capitol Hill and fresh national polling suggest deep skepticism toward the initiative.
The announcement followed a White House luncheon where industry leaders gathered to address safety standards. House Speaker Mike Johnson briefed reporters on the core document, formally titled The White House Accord on Superintelligence A Joint Commitment on Frontier SI Responsibilities. Johnson stated that innovation and user safety do not conflict with each other, arguing that companies can manage development risks through multi level internal reviews and external audits. Trump endorsed that hands off posture, claiming that federal restrictions are unnecessary because technology founders love their country and the world.
Trump argued that the traditional terminology sounds flawed and inaccurate. The word artificial carries a connotation of being fake, which Trump described as unsuited for an expanding technological field. Before settling on the new title, Trump surveyed opinions on social media between super intelligence and superior intelligence after raising the issue during a United Nations address. While the administration described the agreement as morally binding, officials have not clarified whether the change alters statutory language or creates formal legal obligations.
Lawmakers quickly questioned the administration approach. Democratic Senator Mark Warner warned that altering labels does nothing to manage practical threats, particularly when software engineers openly admit that technology is developing faster than safety controls.
Voters also appear unconvinced by voluntary industry oversight. A national survey released by Quinnipiac University found that only 25% of voters approve of how Trump handles technology policy, while 58% disapprove. The survey revealed that 79% of respondents value system safety over winning the race for technology leadership. A further 71% said they favor candidates who support enforceable legal guardrails rather than corporate promises.
