This post reads the order against its official text. Statements about what the order says are tied to its sections. Statements about what it means are marked as our reading.
What does Executive Order 14434 say?
- Section 2(a): to the maximum extent permitted by law, executive departments and agencies use the terms Super Intelligence and SI in place of Artificial Intelligence and AI in official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents, and other non-statutory documents.
- Section 2(b): nothing in that section requires altering previously issued regulations, Presidential actions, contracts, grants, or other historical documents.
- Section 3(a): for the order's purposes, the new terms mean the technologies and systems covered by the term artificial intelligence as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 9401(3).
- Section 3(b): within 60 days, the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology submits proposed legislative language to establish a Federal definition of the new terms.
- Section 4(c): the order creates no enforceable right or benefit.
Does it change what AI products can do?
Our reading: no. The order's purpose section describes today's systems as representing a new era, which is a policy position. The operative definition in section 3(a) points back to the existing statutory definition, so the order renames a term for federal use and does not set a measurable technical standard. A product is not more or less capable because a government document uses a different word for it.
What should buyers do differently?
- Expect federal documents, and some vendor marketing, to use Super Intelligence and SI. Check what definition a document relies on before drawing conclusions from the label.
- Keep asking for evidence. A label is not evidence of capability, security, or compliance. See vendor claims vs. verified findings.
- If you contract with federal agencies, read how a solicitation defines its terms, and ask your counsel what the order means for your documents.
What happens next?
The 60-day proposal is the next visible step. Its outcome is not known at the time of writing. We record the order, with its primary source and verification date, in the policy tracker, and we will update that entry if the status changes.
Frequently asked questions
What is Executive Order 14434?
It is a presidential order titled Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence, signed on 29 September 2026 and published in the Federal Register on 2 October 2026 at 91 FR 63129. It directs executive agencies on terminology and asks for a proposed federal definition.
Does the order apply to private companies?
Its directions are addressed to the executive branch. The text does not impose terminology requirements on private companies, and it states that it creates no enforceable rights.
Does the order change what AI products can do?
No. For the purposes of the order, the new terms mean the technologies covered by the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence. A change of name does not change a product's capabilities.
When is the proposed federal definition due?
Section 3(b) asks for proposed legislative language within 60 days of the order, which falls around 28 November 2026. It is a proposal to the President, not an enacted definition.
Sources
- Executive Order 14434, Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence (Federal Register, 91 FR 63129) — Office of the Federal Register, accessed .
- Official PDF of the order (GovInfo) — U.S. Government Publishing Office, accessed .