US President Trump urges shift from AI to SI amid tech policy Debate

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Donald Trump Proposes ‘Super Intelligence’ as AI Rebranding, Sparking Global Control Debate as US-China Talks Loom

Former US President Donald Trump has proposed renaming Artificial Intelligence (AI) as "Super Intelligence" (SI), arguing the current term sounds "too fake," while a BBC panel discussion this week highlighted the escalating geopolitical tensions over AI governance as the US and China prepare to discuss the technology’s future.

The move comes as global leaders grapple with whether AI should be regulated by a unified international body or left to individual nations—with the US and China locked in a rivalry over who will dominate its development. The BBC’s AI Decoded episode, featuring technology analyst Parmy Olson, former China Investment Corporation executive Winston Ma, and co-host Priya Lakhani, examined the stakes as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet with AI high on their agenda.

Trump’s suggestion was made during broader remarks on technology, with no formal policy shift announced. The panel dissected the implications of an AI "watchdog" mechanism, questioning whether any single entity—be it the US, China, or a new global body—could effectively oversee a technology that underpins military, economic, and social systems.

Olson, author of Supremacy, warned that without clear oversight, AI risks becoming a tool of unchecked power, while Ma emphasized China’s state-led approach, contrasting with the US’s fragmented regulatory landscape.

The discussion also explored the blurred line between current AI capabilities and what Trump termed "Super Intelligence"—a concept some experts argue implies human-like or surpassing cognitive abilities. The panel cautioned that without consensus on definitions, the term risks becoming another battleground in the US-China tech war.

Meanwhile, the BBC segment underscored how Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations may face pressure to align with either bloc’s vision, given their growing role as tech hubs and consumers of AI-driven services.

With no immediate action on Trump’s rebranding proposal, the focus remains on the US-China summit, where AI regulation, data sovereignty, and semiconductor controls are expected to dominate. The outcome could shape global tech governance for years, leaving smaller economies like Malaysia caught between competing standards. The next major development will likely emerge from the bilateral talks, where any agreement—or deadlock—will set the tone for international AI policy.