U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday the appointment of Jay Clayton, the current director of national intelligence, as the head of the administration’s efforts in artificial intelligence (AI) coordination to uphold U.S. dominance in technology.
Trump, advocating for renaming AI as “super intelligence,” designated Clayton to lead the newly formed “Super Intelligence Force” (SIF). The SIF will oversee interactions with consumers, religious organizations, AI firms, and other stakeholders.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump outlined that the SIF’s objective is to ensure America’s leadership in Super Intelligence and safeguard the interests and well-being of all Americans.
This move confirms an earlier report by the Wall Street Journal, where Clayton, who assumed the role of national intelligence chief in August, mentioned that Trump had chosen him to spearhead the administration’s endeavors to maintain the U.S.’s position in AI.
Clayton emphasized the urgency of being at the forefront, stating, “The risk of not being first is high.” He highlighted that the task force led by him would have 120 days to present a report assessing the risks and opportunities associated with AI and suggesting the federal government’s role.
Addressing rising concerns over AI safety, some experts caution about potential threats to humanity within the next decade. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have expressed worries and called for proactive measures.
Contrary to stringent AI regulation, Trump has advocated for a lighter touch, arguing that excessive oversight could diminish competitiveness vis-a-vis China. He emphasized his reluctance to collaborate with Chinese President Xi Jinping on AI technology governance.
Clayton’s team will review AI-related risks and existing government reporting mechanisms for breaches and recommend enhancements to federal response capabilities under current authorities.
This marks the second time Trump has appointed an advisor to oversee AI-related decisions across the administration. Venture capitalist David Sacks previously held the role in Trump’s second term.
Apart from Clayton, the task force will include Andrew Ferguson, chair of the Federal Trade Commission; Emil Michael, Pentagon’s chief technology officer; and Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, as stated by Trump.
The panel is set to report to the president and Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff.