Trump Names Jay Clayton to Lead AI Task Force

President Donald Trump has selected Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to serve as the administration’s AI czar. Clayton will lead a new White House task force called the “Super Intelligence Force,” reflecting Trump’s preference for the term “SI” over “AI.” The group has 120 days to examine artificial intelligence’s risks and opportunities and recommend what role the federal government should play in overseeing the technology. It will report to Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The task force will also include Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Defense Department Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering and Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor. The Wall Street Journal first reported Clayton’s appointment. The move follows Trump’s September announcement of an “AI Force” intended to facilitate industry growth and identify bad actors. Trump has said the government should not hinder the sector, while also describing the group’s role as helping and overseeing the industry. The task force is being formed amid increased concern about AI risks, including high-profile hacks involving rogue AI agents and warnings about the speed of technological progress. AI leaders have recently met with Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson at the White House and agreed to voluntary safety standards, which Trump called “morally binding.” Prominent AI executives, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have called for federal guardrails on advanced AI models. Trump, however, has opposed regulation and previously characterized fears about AI as a hoax. Clayton previously chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission and served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. The Senate confirmed him as director of national intelligence in July, placing him in charge of 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. The article also notes that venture capitalist David Sacks previously served as Trump’s AI and crypto czar and now co-chairs the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

US President Donald Trump has announced a White House task force to coordinate the federal government’s response to artificial intelligence. The group, called the “Super Intelligence Force” (SI)—using terminology Trump prefers to “AI”—will be led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton. Its other named members are Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor. Trump says the task force will engage with consumers, public-interest groups, religious organizations, critical infrastructure providers, and companies developing advanced AI. The announcement follows Trump’s September pledge to appoint an AI czar and create a new body to oversee the technology’s development. Although he says the government will “watch over” the industry, he has opposed strict laws codifying AI safety requirements, emphasizing that the government should not hinder its growth. The article notes that concerns about AI risks are becoming politically salient ahead of November’s midterm elections. Researchers and technology executives have warned that AI could pose existential risks. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently called for a global slowdown in AI development, a position that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also endorsed. Trump has separately sought voluntary safety commitments from technology companies. At a White House lunch with nearly 20 technology leaders in late September, he said there was support for “tremendous self-regulation.” The executives signed a one-page document committing to follow safety measures voluntarily. The article characterizes the agreement as largely symbolic because it is not an official order. Taken together, the task force and the voluntary pact illustrate the administration’s effort to address AI concerns while relying on coordination and industry commitments rather than strict statutory regulation.

A new White House task force will examine the risks posed by artificial intelligence and consider what role the US federal government should play, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The group will be led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, who confirmed his appointment to the newspaper. A senior White House official described the position as effectively making Clayton the Trump administration’s AI czar. The task force, called the “Super Intelligence Force”—a name preferred by President Donald Trump—has 120 days to prepare its report. Clayton said its purpose is to ensure the United States remains a leader in superintelligence while putting the interests of Americans first. The initiative comes amid increasing concern about AI-related security risks. However, Trump has rejected calls for new regulations and has emphasized preserving the US technological lead over China. His administration instead supports a voluntary approach that includes external safety audits and stronger internal controls. Speaking at a meeting with industry executives, Trump described the country’s lead as substantial and said it should be maintained. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent separately criticized warnings from prominent AI figures about existential risks, calling them alarmist and unhelpful. In an interview with Axios, he argued that AI companies should regulate themselves and develop solutions. Bessent said responsibility rests with people working at AI laboratories and suggested that the labs have begun to accept that responsibility. The article thus presents a policy debate between assessing AI’s potential risks and responsibilities, and the administration’s preference for voluntary industry safeguards rather than new government regulations, with international competition with China a central consideration.