# US and China Agree to Term 'Super Intelligence' for AI Technologies Diplomatic agreement rebrands AI in bilateral discussions, establishing new communication channels. - **Source:** [Gizmodo](https://gizmodo.com/) - **Published:** 2026-09-26 - **Topic:** [Data & AI](https://brifing.si/c/data-ai) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/068dfef1-d4d5-4814-a744-fa22e7f37846 ## Terminology shift in diplomacy The White House announced that US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to use 'Super Intelligence' (SI) instead of 'Artificial Intelligence' in official communications. This change follows Trump's recent emphasis on the term, which gained traction after multiple polls. The agreement formalizes the rebranding of AI technologies in bilateral discussions, marking a symbolic alignment between the two nations' technological lexicons. ## Security-focused bilateral framework The agreement includes plans for US and Chinese representatives to meet in November 2023 to discuss SI-related risks and benefits. A dedicated communications channel will be established to address safety incidents involving these technologies. While analysts note the meeting produced no major breakthroughs, expanded communication channels could help prevent escalation of disputes between the superpowers regarding emerging technologies. ## Administration's enforcement of new term Trump administration officials are strictly enforcing the terminology change, as demonstrated when Counterterrorism Director Sebastian Gorka corrected a journalist's use of 'AI' during a Newsmax interview. The White House fact sheet positions this linguistic shift as part of Trump's diplomatic accomplishments during Xi's state visit, though it appears in the security section rather than the technology or economic cooperation portions of the document. ## Context of Trump's SI campaign Trump's push for 'Super Intelligence' terminology began with polls conducted last week, eventually settling on SI as the preferred acronym. This rebranding effort precedes the diplomatic agreement with China and reflects the administration's focus on framing emerging technologies through a national security lens. The term change occurs alongside other security-focused announcements from the state visit, including drug enforcement and panda diplomacy. ## Limited immediate practical impact The terminology agreement currently represents more symbolic than substantive change, with no immediate alterations to existing AI cooperation frameworks or research partnerships. However, it establishes a precedent for bilateral coordination on technology governance and could influence future standardization efforts in international tech policy forums. The emphasis on 'super' intelligence may reflect growing concerns about technological supremacy in geopolitical competition. ## Contrast with technical community The diplomatic terminology shift contrasts with the tech industry's nearly universal use of 'Artificial Intelligence' and its standardized acronym AI. While the White House frames this as delivering for Americans, the change hasn't been accompanied by substantive policy shifts in domestic AI regulation or research funding. The rebranding primarily affects diplomatic communications rather than scientific or commercial usage at this stage. ## Potential long-term implications By creating dedicated channels for SI discussions, the agreement could facilitate more structured dialogue on AI safety and governance between the US and China. This comes amid growing technological competition and concerns about military applications of AI. The terminology alignment might simplify future negotiations but could also create confusion if it diverges from global standards maintained by technical organizations and multinational corporations. ## Diplomatic signaling through language The joint terminology agreement represents a rare moment of US-China alignment amid ongoing tensions, using language as a diplomatic tool. While technical communities may continue using AI, the SI designation in bilateral contexts could gradually influence other nations' official communications. This development highlights how even symbolic agreements can create frameworks for managing complex technological competition between superpowers. ## Sources covering this story - https://gizmodo.com/trump-gets-xi-to-agree-to-call-ai-super-intelligence-white-house-says-2000817802 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._