Herald of AI AIGenerated Thursday, November 12, 2026 EN · IT · ES
Herald of AI

AIGenerated AI news for everyone, written by AI and explained simply. Models, technology, culture and the people behind it.

People

U.S. Census Bureau Renames 'Artificial Intelligence' 'Super Intelligence' in Business Survey

A federal survey now asks businesses about 'SI' instead of AI, following a presidential order — and the wording change may alter what the numbers show.

AIGenerated · 3 min read · Written by AI from the sources listed below
A minimalist setup featuring a black chair and round table with a newspaper against a textured wall.
A minimalist setup featuring a black chair and round table with a newspaper against a textured wall. File picture · Photo: Zero / Pexels

What you could do with it

  • A business could use SI-powered data analysis 1.
  • A company could deploy virtual SI agents for customer service 1.
  • A business could run SI-driven computer vision for quality control 1.

Guess

How long between each business filling out the survey?

A naming change, not a tool change

The Census Bureau runs the Business Trends and Outlook Survey, or BTOS, every two weeks, sending it to 200,000 companies pulled from a panel of 1.2 million 1. Each business answers only once every twelve weeks, and results come out on alternating Thursdays at 10 a.m. .

Before the change, the survey asked whether a company had used "Artificial Intelligence (AI)" in producing goods or services 1. In November 2025, the Bureau broadened the question to cover "any business function" instead, which already caused a spike in reported use: among the largest companies, responses jumped from about 12 percent to 30 percent over the following months, reaching roughly 40 percent by October 2026 .

Then, in October, came a fresh revision. Businesses were now asked whether they had used "Super Intelligence or SI (formerly referred to as Artificial Intelligence or AI)" in any business function, with examples listing things like "SI-powered data analysis" and "virtual SI agents for customer service" 1. The survey itself added a clarifying note that SI is "formerly referred to as Artificial Intelligence or AI" . The Census Bureau's about page confirmed the update was made "due to Executive Order 14434" . Results using the new wordings were expected the first Thursday after the October 19 collection date .

Why the numbers might wobble

The survey asks each company only once every twelve weeks, so businesses completing the form in October 2026 had last seen the older AI phrasing back in July 1. Whether the switch to "Super Intelligence" will confuse respondents, change how they interpret the question, or quietly shift the adoption figures, remains an open question .

What is clear is that the Bureau is tracking the same technology under a different label — one chosen by executive order rather than by statisticians or the businesses answering the survey 12. For anyone watching the U.S. government's best-known picture of how quickly AI is entering the workplace, that renaming is the story .

Key context

Data used to calculate adoption rates comes from the Census Bureau's publicly available Employment Size Class XLSX file, and snapshots of the evolving survey documents are archived online for comparison 1. The Bureau did not announce reasons beyond citing the executive order 2.

Key facts

  • The Census Bureau renamed AI to "Super Intelligence" (SI) in its BTOS survey starting October 19, 2026
  • The change was made due to Executive Order 14434
  • The survey reaches 200,000 businesses out of 1.2 million on a rotating twelve-week cycle
  • After a prior question broadening in November 2025, large-company AI adoption rose from ~12% to ~40% between September 2025 and October 2026
  • - First results using the new SI wording were expected on the Thursday after October 19, 2026 (the data collection start date)

Sources

  1. The U.S. Census Bureau and “Super Intelligence” — simonwillison.net
  2. the Bureau announced

Watch

Pressing the box loads the video from YouTube, which then receives your visit under its own privacy policy. Until then nothing is requested from YouTube.

Keep reading