for exporters · how to handle SI in US government bids
Selling to the US: writing bids and documents with SI
If you sell to US federal agencies, their documents now say SI. Here's how to match their language without confusing anyone.
Why this matters
Since 29 September 2026, US executive branch agencies are required to use "Super Intelligence" and "SI" in place of "artificial intelligence" in their official documents, where the law allows. Tenders, guidance and correspondence will increasingly use the new term.
At the same time, US statutes and many existing contracts still say artificial intelligence. So for now you'll see both. The order doesn't require agencies to rewrite existing contracts, regulations or grants.
How to write your bid
- Mirror the tender. If the request uses SI, use SI in your response, so evaluators can match your answers to their questions.
- Define it once. On first use, write Super Intelligence (SI). If the contract's legal terms still say artificial intelligence, note that the two refer to the same technology.
- Don't oversell. "Super intelligence" in a bid is the agency's label, not a capability claim. Describe what your product actually does.
- Check agency guidance. Some agencies publish their own rules. The US Department of Energy has published SI usage guidelines for one of its offices, showing how one office applies the new term.
In contracts
Under the order, SI currently means the technologies covered by the existing US legal definition of AI (15 U.S.C. § 9401(3)). If a contract introduces SI, check whether it keeps that definition or brings in a new one. A proposal for a new federal definition is due around 28 November 2026, and Congress would need to act before the law changes.
Outside the US
Keep using AI for UK, EU and other customers. Running two versions of key documents, one for US federal buyers and one for everyone else, may be simpler than mixing terms.
This is general information, not legal advice.