Musk to rename SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI, following Trump's 'Super Intelligence' executive order

Key points

• Musk confirmed on X that he will rename SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI in response to a user's suggestion, following his earlier endorsement of the term 'Super Intelligence.'
• Trump issued an executive order late last month to rename artificial intelligence as 'Super Intelligence,' claiming the old term had negative connotations and was 'terrible.'
• Musk posted the cover of Nick Bostrom's book 'Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies' alongside his endorsement, though the book discusses a hypothetical future where AI surpasses human intelligence.
• The rebranding effort has been criticized by tech leaders, including those from Anthropic, Meta, OpenAI, Nvidia, and Google, who attended a recent AI business summit and were seen as complying with the administration's branding push.
• Musk previously proposed 'universal high income' via government checks to address AI-driven unemployment, a stance that contrasts with Vice President JD Vance's emphasis on protecting jobs and worker dignity.

Background

This development follows earlier reports that Trump was pushing to rebrand AI as 'Super Intelligence' and was considering candidates for the AI czar role, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was ultimately ruled out. The rebranding effort has been part of a broader push by the administration to reshape the narrative around AI, despite concerns from the tech industry about the term's lack of technical precision and its conflation of current AI models with hypothetical superhuman capabilities.

How outlets are covering it

Gizmodo frames Musk's decision as a 'surrender' to Trump's branding push, noting that Musk's endorsement of 'Super Intelligence' is a departure from the technical term 'artificial intelligence' and aligns with Trump's preference for a more 'catchy' term. The Detroit News highlights the contradiction between Musk's proposal for 'universal high income' and Vance's emphasis on protecting jobs, suggesting a tension within the Republican Party's economic philosophy. Yahoo's coverage focuses on the rebranding of Grok, Musk's AI chatbot, as part of the broader 'Super Intelligence' push, though it does not provide additional details on the SpaceXAI rename.

Why it matters

The rebranding of AI as 'Super Intelligence' by the Trump administration and its endorsement by major tech figures like Musk could reshape public perception and policy around AI. The shift from a technical term to a more evocative one may influence how AI is discussed in political and economic contexts, potentially affecting regulations, funding, and public trust in the technology. The contradiction between Musk's proposals for government checks and Vance's emphasis on job protection also highlights internal tensions within the Republican Party's approach to AI-driven economic disruption.

What to watch

The renaming of SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI is expected to be implemented in the coming weeks, though Musk has a history of not following through on such promises. The broader 'Super Intelligence' rebranding effort may face resistance from tech leaders and experts who argue that the term lacks technical precision and could mislead the public about the capabilities of current AI models. The administration's push to reshape the narrative around AI could also influence future policy decisions and public discourse on the technology.