U.S. State Department Mandates ‘Super Intelligence’ Terminology in Official Communications

The U.S. State Department has issued a directive requiring all personnel to replace the term “artificial intelligence” with “Super Intelligence” in official communications. This instruction, which extends to renaming AI-related programs and systems, integrates President Donald Trump’s terminology change into the daily functions of American diplomacy. The move is based on an unclassified cable obtained by Government Executive and Nextgov/FCW, with details confirmed by two individuals familiar with the matter.

The cable, dated Monday and addressed to the entire department, mandates the use of “Super Intelligence” or “SI” in all new correspondence, including letters, emails, public messages, websites, reports, remarks, and policy documents, subject to legal exceptions. Existing materials are to be updated during routine revisions.

According to the cable, “All official titles and the names of Department governance bodies, systems, platforms, inventories, and programs must use SI in place of AI.” This directive operationalizes Trump’s September 29 executive order, which called for executive agencies to adopt the new terminology across official communications, demonstrating how broad instructions are being implemented specifically for diplomats and internal operations.

The executive order aims to reflect the advancing capabilities and potential of American technology. However, for now, “Super Intelligence” is defined to encompass the same technologies and systems as the existing statutory definition of AI. This differs from the computing science concept of super intelligence, which implies capabilities beyond current generative AI.

In recent weeks, administration officials had discussed the terminology change with certain State bureaus, but this cable represents the first department-wide directive specifying where the new language must be applied. The Associated Press previously reported similar communications with State’s international organizations bureau.

The transition, anticipated for some time, holds significant implications as it will alter how U.S. diplomats describe the rapidly evolving technology in policy documents and discussions with international counterparts.

Foreign organizations are exempt from name changes; the cable explicitly instructs employees not to alter references to China’s World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, even as the department updates its own materials.

The directive outlines several exceptions: employees must retain language required by law, including citations from statutes, regulations, treaties, and other legal instruments. Contracts and grants are also excluded pending further guidance. Previously published documents, cables, and archived web pages should not be revised solely for terminology changes. Additionally, the published titles of existing presidential actions, programs, and organizations, such as America’s AI Action Plan, remain unchanged unless further direction is provided.

One program has already been renamed; the cable notes that the American AI Exports Program is now the American SI Exports Program, referencing an earlier State Department communication. The program’s public website already reflects this name in describing its support for American companies selling technology overseas.

For staff involved in international agreements or departmental rules, the cable directs inquiries about terminology to the appropriate policy or legal offices.

The vocabulary shift is already evident in public statements by senior officials. National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross repeatedly used “super intelligence” and “SI” during an October 1 discussion on AI safety, following the executive order. Similarly, Office of Personnel Management CIO Adam Starr employed “SI” in recent remarks, announcing the launch of the SuperIntelligence Governance and Adoption Program (SI GAP) to assist other agencies in adopting the technology.

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