U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Jay Clayton, the current director of national intelligence, has been appointed as the administration’s artificial intelligence czar. Clayton’s role will involve coordinating the government’s initiatives to uphold U.S. dominance in the technology realm.
Trump, who has advocated for rebranding AI as “super intelligence,” disclosed that Clayton will lead the newly established “Super Intelligence Force” (SIF). This entity will oversee the government’s interactions with consumers, religious organizations, AI firms, and other involved parties.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized that SIF’s objective is to ensure America’s continued leadership in Super Intelligence and to safeguard the interests and enhance the quality of life for all Americans.
The announcement confirmed a report by the Wall Street Journal, where Clayton, who assumed the position of national intelligence chief in August, revealed that Trump had selected him to spearhead the administration’s efforts in maintaining the United States’ forefront position in AI.
“The risk of not being the first is substantial,” Clayton cautioned in his remarks to the newspaper.
Clayton outlined that the task force will have a 120-day timeframe to generate a report evaluating the risks and opportunities presented by AI and suggesting the federal government’s role in this context.
Regarding AI safety concerns, recent weeks have witnessed heightened focus on the potential risks associated with AI, with some experts warning about the technology’s capacity to pose threats to human life within the next decade. This has prompted both Democratic and Republican lawmakers to express concerns and urge for proactive measures.
Trump’s approach towards AI regulation has been characterized as cautious, with the rationale that excessive oversight could compromise competitiveness against China. He stated his reluctance to collaborate with Chinese President Xi Jinping on governing AI technology.
Clayton’s committee is set to review risks linked to AI and existing government mechanisms for reporting breaches and incidents, and it will propose strategies to bolster federal response capabilities within the current regulatory framework.
This marks the second instance in which Trump has appointed an adviser to oversee AI-related decision-making across the government. Previously, venture capitalist David Sacks held the role of AI czar at the start of Trump’s second term.
Apart from Clayton, the leaders of the task force will include Andrew Ferguson, chair of the Federal Trade Commission; Emil Michael, Pentagon chief technology officer; and Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, as outlined by Trump. The panel will provide reports to the president and Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff.
