U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday the appointment of Jay Clayton, the current director of national intelligence, as the government’s artificial intelligence czar, tasked with coordinating efforts to uphold U.S. dominance in this field of technology.
Trump, who advocates for the rebranding of AI as “super intelligence,” designated Clayton to lead the newly established “Super Intelligence Force” (SIF), responsible for overseeing government interactions with consumers, religious organizations, AI firms, and other involved parties.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated that SIF’s objective is to “ensure that America remains the global leader in Super Intelligence” while safeguarding the interests and enhancing the well-being of all Americans.
The announcement confirms an earlier report by The Wall Street Journal in which Clayton, who assumed his role as national intelligence chief in August, revealed that Trump had chosen him to spearhead efforts to maintain the U.S.’s lead in AI.
Clayton emphasized the urgency of leading in AI, stating that the consequences of falling behind are significant.
The newly formed task force, under Clayton’s leadership, has been given a 120-day deadline to deliver a comprehensive report evaluating the risks and opportunities associated with AI, along with recommendations on the federal government’s role in this domain.
Regarding AI safety concerns, there has been mounting apprehension among researchers about the potential dangers of AI technology, with some expressing fears of its potential to harm humans in the next decade. Lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum have echoed these concerns, calling for enhanced measures.
Trump’s approach to AI regulation has been characterized by a preference for minimal oversight, citing concerns about maintaining competitiveness against China. He has explicitly stated his reluctance to collaborate with Chinese President Xi Jinping on governing AI technology.
Clayton’s panel will focus on reviewing AI-related risks, current government protocols for addressing breaches and hacks, and suggesting ways to bolster federal response capabilities within existing frameworks, according to the task force’s charter cited by The Wall Street Journal.
This marks the second occasion where Trump has appointed an advisor to oversee AI-related decisions at the governmental level. Previously, venture capitalist David Sacks held the position of AI czar at the start of Trump’s second term.
Apart from Clayton, the leadership team of the task force will include Andrew Ferguson, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission; Emil Michael, Chief Technology Officer at the Pentagon; and Scott Kupor, Director of the Office of Personnel Management, as outlined by Trump.
The panel will operate under the guidance of the president and Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff.