Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order (N-10-26) mandates that California state agencies continue using the terms "Artificial Intelligence" and "AI" in official communications, explicitly rejecting the federal government’s move to adopt "Super Intelligence" (SI) ^{[11] [16] [19]}.

A Clash of Governance

This order follows President Donald Trump’s directive for federal departments to rebrand AI as "Super Intelligence" ^{[5] [17]}. Newsom framed the decision as a refusal to be distracted by superficial terminology, arguing that the rebranding cannot obscure the pressing safety and security risks posed by the technology ^{[11] [14] [17]}.

Policy Divergence

The terminology split is part of a broader friction between California’s regulatory approach and federal trends:

• Safety vs. Innovation: In 2024, Newsom vetoed the controversial SB 1047, which would have imposed stringent safety requirements on frontier models, citing concerns about stifling innovation ^{[1] [2] [8]}.
• Legislative Shift: While SB 1047 was rejected, California has since enacted narrower, high-impact regulations like SB 53 and AB 2013, focusing on transparency and governance frameworks rather than the earlier bill's aggressive liability structure ^{[2] [6] [8]}.

By maintaining conventional terminology, California continues to position itself as a distinct regulatory actor, prioritizing localized policy frameworks over federal branding mandates ^{[12] [14]}.

Sources

1. Newsom mocks Trump’s AI renaming with executive order
2. California Governor Newsom Rejects Trump Renaming of AI with …
3. Gavin Newsom orders California firms to keep 'AI' name unchanged …
4. California Retains AI Terminology Despite Federal Super Inte | …
5. Gavin Newsom defies Donald Trump’s order / California will continue …
6. Why Newsom Vetoed California’s AI Safety Bill SB 1047
7. Gavin Newsom Takes the Bait, Signs Order Declaring California …
8. As the public sours on AI, Newsom signs a host of regulations — …
9. California AI Laws and Regulation (2026) | Recording Law
10. California Governor Signs Executive Order Requiring State Agencies …