US President Donald Trump on 30 September 2026 announced plans to officially rename artificial intelligence 'superintelligence', telling technology leaders gathered at a White House luncheon that a document formalising the change would be signed. The announcement came alongside a broader push to entrench American technological supremacy over China and a preference for industry self-regulation over government mandates.

The Name Change Explained

Trump argued that the word 'artificial' failed to capture the true nature of the technology. 'This isn't — this is extreme intelligence. It's superior intelligence,' he said. At a separate event launching America.gov — presented by the administration as a single gateway to federal information and services — Trump said the administration would use the abbreviation SI. He framed the renaming as part of a wider effort to expand the technology while keeping the United States at the global frontier.

Self-Regulation Over Government Rules

Asked whether the technology industry required guardrails or formal regulation, Trump emphasised self-regulation alongside existing law enforcement mechanisms. 'Well, there's a belief that there should be tremendous self-regulation,' he said. He cited the Department of Justice and the FBI as institutions capable of addressing wrongdoing, but his remarks did not lay out specific new regulatory requirements or detail how industry self-regulation would function in practice. Critics could argue this leaves a significant enforcement gap in a sector moving faster than existing legal frameworks.

The China Competition

Trump was explicit about the geopolitical dimension of the technology race, warning against any joint venture with China that could expose American knowledge or secrets. 'If we do that, we're going to be giving a lot of secrets,' he said. He described the contest as effectively a two-horse race between the United States and China, asserting that no other country occupied a meaningful third position. 'We're leading now over China and everyone else, and I want to keep it that way,' he said. Trump acknowledged having discussed the technology with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but said he had deliberately limited that conversation to protect America's advantage.

Data Centres and Community Benefits

At the luncheon, Trump said technology companies had agreed to work more closely with communities hosting data centres, with potential support including energy supplies, educational resources, and financial assistance for teachers and local residents. He asserted that areas with data centres had become wealthier and experienced lower taxes, though he did not provide figures or name specific communities to support those claims. He also warned that difficulties in securing suitable locations could push projects overseas or to other parts of the United States.

What Comes Next

The administration said a formal statement summarising the meeting would be released. No signing date for the renaming document was specified. The America.gov launch marks the administration's first consolidated federal information portal. With no binding regulatory framework outlined, the practical impact of the 'superintelligence' rebranding — and what, if anything, changes in policy terms — remains to be seen.