The United States government has started calling artificial intelligence something new. A recent executive order directs federal agencies to replace the terms "artificial intelligence" and "AI" with "super intelligence" and "SI". This article explains what the order says, what it does not change, and why it matters for researchers, universities and conference organizers. If you organize or attend academic events, you can discover upcoming conferences on ScholarMeet and see how this topic shows up in calls for papers.
What Happened?
At the end of September 2026, the White House announced an executive order titled "Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence." It directs executive departments and agencies, to the extent the law allows, to use "super intelligence" and "SI" in place of "artificial intelligence" and "AI" in official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports and policy documents.
On the same day, a group of technology leaders signed a separate agreement, the White House Accord on Super Intelligence.
What Does the Order Cover?
- Federal agencies: departments and agencies in the executive branch are told to adopt the new wording.
- Non-statutory documents: reports, websites, speeches and policy papers. Laws already passed by Congress are not rewritten.
- "To the maximum extent permitted by law": the wording in existing statutes and regulations stays as it is.
What Does It Not Change?
This is a naming decision by the US government. It does not make "AI" an outdated term everywhere, and it does not change how scientists define the field.
- Universities and journals are not bound by an executive order.
- Other countries and international bodies keep using "artificial intelligence".
- The technology itself is unchanged. Only the label is different.
Why the Wording Matters to Researchers
In academic writing, superintelligence already has a specific meaning. It usually refers to a hypothetical system that far exceeds human cognitive ability. Today's tools, such as language models and image generators, are generally described as narrow or general-purpose AI, not as superintelligence.
That gap is the main concern researchers raise. If official documents use "SI" for everyday AI tools, readers may confuse current systems with the hypothetical systems studied in AI safety and philosophy. Authors should define their terms clearly, especially when they submit research papers to an academic conference.
Why the US Government Made the Change
Supporters of the change argue that the word "artificial" makes the technology sound fake, and that "super intelligence" better reflects how capable it has become. Critics see it as a branding move and note that public concern about job losses and data centers is growing. The reasoning is political and reputational, not scientific.
What It Means for Academic Conferences
Expect the vocabulary to shift in some places before it settles.
- Calls for papers may list both "AI" and "SI", especially for US government-funded work.
- Grant applications to US agencies may start using the new terms.
- Submission topics and tracks: organizers should keep "artificial intelligence" in track names so authors and search engines still find them, and add "super intelligence" as a related term.
- Peer review: reviewers should judge whether a paper uses the term precisely. See how blind peer review works.
- Proceedings: keep keywords consistent so papers stay searchable. Our conference proceedings management guide explains how.
Tips for Authors and Organizers
- Use the term your venue and funder expect, and define it in the abstract.
- Do not treat "AI" and "SI" as synonyms in technical papers.
- List both terms in keywords so your work stays searchable.
- Check the instructions of any US federal funder or agency you work with.
- Organizing an event on this topic? A conference management software platform handles the call for papers, reviews and registrations in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "AI" officially replaced by "SI"?
Only in US federal executive-branch communications covered by the order. The rest of the world, including most universities and journals, still uses "AI".
Does SI mean the technology is more advanced now?
No. The order changes the name used in government documents. It does not describe a new technical capability.
What is the difference between AI and superintelligence?
In research, superintelligence means a system that greatly surpasses human intelligence in nearly every area. Current AI tools are not described that way by researchers.
Should I change "AI" to "SI" in my paper?
Not unless your venue or funder asks you to. Define your terms and list both words in your keywords.
Where can I find AI and SI conferences?
Browse academic events on the ScholarMeet home page, or host your own conference.
How do I run a conference on this topic?
Read what a conference management system is to see how submissions, peer review and registration fit together.
Conclusion
"AI" is now "SI" in US government documents, but not in science or the wider world. Researchers should keep their terminology precise, and conference organizers should list both terms so work stays easy to find. Planning an event on this topic? Create your conference on ScholarMeet and manage submissions, reviews and registrations in one platform.
