SEC Adopts Super Intelligence Term in Exam Priorities
The agency updated its oversight frameworks to align with President Trump’s Executive Order 14434.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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The SEC has officially adopted the term super intelligence in its Fiscal Year 2027 examination priorities. This change follows Executive Order 14434, signed by President Trump on September 29, 2026, which mandates federal agencies replace references to artificial intelligence.
Why it matters
The shift marks a coordinated federal alignment under Executive Order 14434, signalling that oversight frameworks for automated systems are being formally rebranded to super intelligence. This regulatory pivot moves beyond naming conventions to integrate the oversight of these systems directly into core information security and operational resiliency mandates.
The SEC now categorizes super intelligence under information security and operational resiliency protocols for its 34,000 registrants. This replaces the previous artificial intelligence nomenclature used in prior examination cycles.
The players
SEC
The federal regulatory agency responsible for overseeing 34,000 registrants and market infrastructure.
President Donald Trump
The current President of the United States who signed the directive mandating the terminology shift.
Valerie Szczepanik
The Chief SI Officer at the SEC leading the agency's task force on super intelligence.
Paul S. Atkins
The Chairman of the SEC who recently released a proposal concerning crypto asset custody rules.
The details
The SEC mandate requires all examination priority documentation to transition from artificial intelligence to super intelligence in alignment with NIST standards. The Super Intelligent Task Force, established in August 2025, now manages these oversight categories within the agency. The SEC further adjusted its broader market infrastructure policy by reclassifying cryptocurrency operations under a new tokenization taxonomy.
Timeline
August 2025: SEC established the Super Intelligent Task Force.
September 29, 2026: President Trump signed Executive Order 14434.
October 23, 2026: The SEC published its Fiscal Year 2027 examination priorities.
The Tech Race
The SEC is aligning its internal governance with the broader federal push established by Executive Order 14434. This update precedes anticipated White House legislation intended to codify a new federal definition for super intelligence by late November 2026.
The 34,000 firms registered with the SEC will now face examination priorities that formally categorize automated systems under the new super intelligence label. These entities must prepare for updated audit requirements integrated into existing operational resiliency protocols.
The takeaway
The move signals a finalized federal shift in how agencies classify automated systems. Watch for the upcoming federal legislative draft in late November 2026, which will define the scope of super intelligence in law.
What happens next
The White House is scheduled to draft federal legislation to redefine super intelligence by late November 2026.
Further reading
For broader context on current governance, see our Artificial Intelligence section.
Live Poll
Does renaming artificial intelligence to super intelligence in federal policy improve government oversight effectiveness?
