US President Donald Trump speaks with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the White House driveway following a luncheon for tech leaders in the East Room, in Washington, D.C., US, Sept. 29, 2026.

Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

A month after President Donald Trump ordered that the term "super intelligence" replace artificial intelligence within executive branch departments and agencies, his leading tech allies — Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg — followed suit on earnings calls. Their fellow tech CEOs were less eager to do the same.

Trump's declaration took place on Sept. 29, while he was hosting an AI luncheon at the White House for industry leaders. At the time, he was working to ensure the growth of AI in the U.S. with limited regulations.…