RismadarVoice Reporters
October 1, 2026
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered state agencies to continue using the terms “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI,” rejecting President Donald Trump’s decision to rename the technology “Super Intelligence” across the federal executive branch.
Newsom announced the executive order as California unveiled additional measures governing the use of AI, including protections affecting workers, healthcare and consumer transparency.
“I just signed an executive order permanently declaring Artificial Intelligence ‘Artificial Intelligence’ in California. You’re welcome, America,” Newsom said while announcing the move.
The order directs agencies and departments under the governor’s authority to continue referring to the technology as Artificial Intelligence and AI, notwithstanding the federal government’s adoption of different terminology.
Trump formally issued an executive order on September 29 directing federal executive departments and agencies, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to replace “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” with “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports and other non-statutory documents.
The federal order defines Super Intelligence as covering the same technologies and systems encompassed by the existing legal definition of artificial intelligence. It does not require previously issued regulations, presidential actions, contracts, grants or historical documents to be rewritten.
Newsom’s response comes amid a broader disagreement between his administration and the Trump administration over the regulation and oversight of advanced AI systems.
California has recently expanded its AI regulatory framework, including measures covering independent safety assessments, transparency, workplace protections and oversight of advanced systems.
Newsom has also directed state officials and outside experts to develop recommendations for strengthening oversight of frontier AI systems, including consideration of mechanisms capable of shutting down advanced models during serious safety incidents.
The terminology dispute does not change the underlying technology itself, but it means California and the federal executive branch are adopting different official language when referring to the same broad category of technology.
Trump’s administration argues that “Super Intelligence” better reflects the growing capabilities and potential of the technology, while Newsom has used the federal rebranding to reinforce California’s separate approach to AI policy and regulation.
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