Trump Names AI Czar, Forms "Super Intelligence Force"

President Trump has officially unveiled his "Super Intelligence Force" to ensure America leads in artificial intelligence, appointing Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as its czar [1, 3]. Clayton has been given 120 days to deliver a report on the technology's advantages and disadvantages ^[1].

Trump announced the task force on Truth Social, clarifying its members after previously teasing its creation [2, 3]. The President has also rebranded AI as "superintelligence," or SI, and instructed the federal government to adopt this new terminology [1, 3].

Clayton stated that the group's goal is to keep the U.S. at the forefront of superintelligence and prioritize the interests of the American people ^[1]. He emphasized the high risk of not being first, citing potential dangers from adversaries.

The new White House task force includes Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, along with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Walters and former AI czar David Sacks, according to the New York Post ^[1]. However, TMZ and CBS News reported different members: FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of Defense Emil Michael, and OPM Director Scott Kupor [2, 3]. Clayton told the Wall Street Journal he is confident in the group's diverse experience and shared commitment ^[2].

The force's charter aims to create ways to mitigate AI risks and develop response plans for SI-enabled threats, while simultaneously preventing overregulation that could stifle innovation ^[1]. This aligns with Trump's stance against throttling AI development, which he warned would benefit China.

Last week, Trump met with top AI company CEOs, including those from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Nvidia, and Elon Musk's SpaceXAI ^[3]. They signed a "White House Accord on Super Intelligence," agreeing to general principles for developing the technology and committing to voluntary safety standards [1, 3].

This move comes amidst public skepticism over AI, with some industry leaders, like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, calling for a slowdown in development ^[1]. Senator Bernie Sanders has also introduced legislation to ban super intelligence and establish government oversight, according to TMZ ^[2].

Clayton anticipates that stronger mechanisms will be developed over time to address risks and identify opportunities within the AI sector ^[1].