U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he has appointed Jay Clayton, the current director of national intelligence, to lead the government’s efforts in maintaining U.S. supremacy in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Trump, who advocates for renaming AI as “super intelligence,” revealed that Clayton will head the newly established “Super Intelligence Force” (SIF), responsible for coordinating interactions with consumers, religious organizations, AI companies, and other key stakeholders.
Through a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized SIF’s mission to uphold America’s leadership in super intelligence and safeguard the interests and well-being of all Americans. The move aligns with a recent report in The Wall Street Journal, where Clayton, who took on the role of national intelligence chief in August, stated that Trump had selected him to spearhead the administration’s drive to ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of AI development.
Clayton emphasized the imperative of maintaining a leading position in AI, expressing that the consequences of falling behind could be severe. The newly formed task force, led by Clayton, is mandated to evaluate the risks and opportunities associated with AI within a timeframe of 120 days, while also determining the federal government’s appropriate role in this evolving landscape.
Amid escalating concerns about AI safety, various lawmakers have called for increased oversight. Trump, however, has taken a more lenient stance on AI regulation, cautioning against excessive controls that could potentially hinder competitiveness, especially in comparison to China. He has specifically expressed reluctance to collaborate with Chinese President Xi Jinping on overseeing AI technology.
Clayton’s task force will focus on assessing AI-related risks, enhancing government response mechanisms to breaches and incidents, and strengthening existing federal capabilities within the established frameworks. Trump also announced the key members of the task force, including Andrew Ferguson, chair of the Federal Trade Commission; Emil Michael, Pentagon chief technology officer; and Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management. The panel will provide regular reports to the president and Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff. This marks the second time Trump has designated an adviser to oversee AI-related decisions across the administration, following David Sacks who held the AI czar role earlier in Trump’s second term.
