California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in Sacramento, California, signed an executive order directing state agencies to continue using the terms “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI”, in a pointed response to US President Donald Trump’s federal move to rename the technology “Super Intelligence” and “SI”.

The move creates an unusual terminology divide between California and the federal government, while adding another chapter to the increasingly sharp debate between Newsom and the Trump administration over artificial intelligence policy.

Also read: White House unveils Trump TV as media clash deepens

Newsom announced the order with a light touch on social media, writing that he had “permanently” declared Artificial Intelligence to be called “Artificial Intelligence” in California.

The California governor’s office said the order requires agencies and departments under Newsom’s authority to use “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI”, regardless of alternative terminology adopted by the federal government, except where doing so would conflict with the law.

The order came a day after President Donald Trump signed a federal executive order directing executive-branch departments and agencies to replace “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” with “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in official communications, public documents, websites and other non-statutory materials.

Trump presented the change as a reflection of the rapidly advancing capabilities of the technology.

The White House said the new terminology was intended to recognise what it described as a new technological frontier and the potential of increasingly capable systems.

Trump had first announced the proposed change during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22.

“From this point forward, all of United States documents and hopefully the world’s will be changed to use the much more accurate term ‘super’ as opposed to ‘artificial’. So it’s super intelligence,” Trump said.

The federal order now gives the terminology change a formal administrative basis.

It also instructs the White House science and technology adviser to develop proposed legislation for a federal definition of “Super Intelligence” and “SI” within 60 days.

Newsom’s response was more than a linguistic disagreement.

The California governor used the order to reinforce his administration’s broader approach to AI governance, which has placed considerable emphasis on workplace protections, consumer safeguards, transparency and independent oversight.

“AI should expand opportunity, not come at the expense of workers and families,” Newsom said as California announced a series of new measures addressing risks associated with the technology.

California has recently intensified its efforts to establish safeguards around artificial intelligence.

On September 18, Newsom issued another executive order aimed at strengthening independent oversight of AI companies and advancing work on a potential “kill switch” for rogue frontier models.

The latest order therefore sits within a broader policy contrast between Sacramento and Washington.

While the Trump administration has emphasised rapid technological development and industry-led safeguards, Newsom has pushed for stronger regulatory oversight and protections against potential harms.

The terminology itself also carries a wider technical context. “Superintelligence” has long existed as a concept in AI and philosophy, generally referring to hypothetical systems whose intellectual capabilities would substantially exceed those of humans.

The Trump administration is using “Super Intelligence” in a different administrative context, applying it to technologies previously covered by the broader term artificial intelligence.

The White House order does not require previously issued regulations, contracts, grants or historical documents to be rewritten.

Instead, it primarily governs terminology in future executive-branch communications and documents.

The change has also drawn attention because the federal government’s terminology shift comes as Washington and Silicon Valley debate how rapidly AI should develop and how much oversight should accompany that expansion.

Major technology companies have meanwhile been involved in the administration’s new approach to AI safety.

The White House has promoted voluntary commitments from leading technology firms as an alternative to a more heavily regulated framework, with measures including internal monitoring, oversight teams, external audits and independent review.

For California, however, the familiar language remains firmly in place.

The Gavin Newsom AI order means state agencies will continue referring to the technology as Artificial Intelligence, creating a striking terminology split in the United States.

Federal agencies will use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” under Trump’s directive, while California agencies under Newsom will retain “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI”.

The disagreement over terminology may appear symbolic, but it reflects a deeper divide over how governments should approach one of the most consequential technologies of the current era.

For Newsom, the emphasis remains on safety, accountability and the effect of AI on workers and families.

Also read: White House unveils Trump TV as media clash deepens

For the Trump administration, the language change forms part of a broader effort to promote the technology’s capabilities and encourage continued innovation.