SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk confirmed on X that the company’s artificial‑intelligence unit, previously known as SpaceXAI, will be renamed SpaceXSI. The change follows a presidential directive issued last week by President Donald Trump that calls for the term “Super Intelligence” (SI) to replace the commonly used label “AI” in official communications.
In a response to an X user, Musk posted, “Yes, we will make that change,” and added, “No more AI. SI, it’s better.” The rebranding is being implemented immediately, with the new name expected to appear across SpaceX’s public materials.
Trump’s executive order and its scope
The presidential directive, titled “Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence,” argues that the phrase “Super Intelligence” more accurately reflects the capabilities of the technology. The order mandates the use of the new terminology in public communications, government websites and reports. It does not, however, alter existing statutory references in congressional law; those remain unchanged until Congress passes amendments that conform to the new language.
Musk’s longstanding view of advanced technology
The rebranding aligns with Musk’s previously expressed belief that frontier technologies have moved beyond what he considers basic artificial intelligence. Long before consumer‑facing AI chatbots became widespread, Musk endorsed Nick Bostrom’s 2014 book “Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies.” In public remarks, Musk has warned that uncontrolled super intelligence could pose a greater threat than nuclear weapons.
His endorsement of Bostrom’s work and his repeated statements about the risks of advanced AI underscore a consistent narrative: the terminology shift to “Super Intelligence” mirrors his assessment that the field has evolved past earlier definitions.
Corporate background and ties to the Trump administration
SpaceXAI was created in July, only a few months ago, after SpaceX completed a $1.25 trillion acquisition of xAI. The deal consolidated the two entities and marked the first major identity change for the AI division. The recent rename to SpaceXSI constitutes the second such change in the division’s brief history.
Prior to the acquisition, xAI operated as an independent startup founded by Musk in 2023. The company later expanded its portfolio by acquiring X Corp., the former Twitter, in March 2025. During the same year, xAI’s language model Grok was contracted to support certain government functions, and Musk served as a special adviser to President Trump.
The timing of the rename, announced on a Sunday, reinforces the close relationship between Musk’s enterprises and the Trump administration. By aligning the division’s name with the executive order, Musk demonstrates compliance with the federal directive while also signaling his support for the administration’s framing of emerging technologies.
Overall, the shift from SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI reflects a convergence of governmental policy, Musk’s long‑standing perspective on the evolution of artificial intelligence, and the strategic positioning of SpaceX’s newly acquired AI assets within the broader corporate structure.
Norman Pearlstine is the Executive Editor and Co-Founder at News Raise. With over two decades of experience across financial journalism, corporate governance, and market analysis, Norman leads the editorial direction and ensures strict adherence to journalistic accuracy and ethics.
