California Governor Signs Order to Preserve Standard AI Terminology

California's governor has signed an executive order requiring state agencies to continue using established technical terminology when referring to artificial intelligence systems, according to Anadolu Agency. The move comes as the administration of President Donald Trump has pushed to popularize the term "super intelligence" to describe advanced AI capabilities.

Under the order, California's state agencies are directed to maintain standard, already-established language when communicating about AI technologies rather than adopting newer branding terms favored at the federal level. The governor's office framed the directive as a measure to preserve clarity and consistency in how the state assesses and discusses AI-related risks.

Concerns over rebranding

In signing the order, the Democratic governor warned that renaming or rebranding AI systems could make it harder to identify and communicate the risks associated with increasingly autonomous and powerful models. The warning specifically pointed to "emerging" security risks that officials say could be obscured if agencies shift away from precise, well-understood terminology.

The order reflects a broader tension between state and federal approaches to artificial intelligence policy, as California has positioned itself as an active regulator of AI systems operating in the state, including rules on transparency, safety testing, and disclosure requirements for companies developing large-scale AI models.

The directive applies to California's state agencies and does not require action from private companies operating in the state. It was not immediately clear whether the order includes specific enforcement mechanisms or deadlines for agencies to comply.

The disagreement over terminology underscores a wider divide in how federal and state officials in the United States are approaching the regulation and public communication of artificial intelligence, as the technology's capabilities and associated risks continue to evolve rapidly.