U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he has designated Jay Clayton, who serves as the director of national intelligence, to lead the government’s efforts in maintaining U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence. Trump, advocating to rebrand AI as “super intelligence,” disclosed that Clayton will head the newly formed “Super Intelligence Force” (SIF), overseeing engagement with consumers, religious groups, AI companies, and other stakeholders.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized that SIF’s goal is to ensure America’s leadership in Super Intelligence and to safeguard the interests and enhance the lives of all Americans. The decision confirmed a report by The Wall Street Journal, where Clayton, appointed national intelligence chief in August, revealed that Trump had chosen him to spearhead the administration’s drive to keep the United States at the forefront of AI development.
Clayton pointed out the importance of being a frontrunner in AI, stating that the risk of lagging behind is significant. He outlined that the task force, under his leadership, has a 120-day timeline to produce a report analyzing the risks and opportunities associated with AI and recommending the federal government’s role in this domain.
Regarding AI safety concerns, recent weeks have seen a growing focus on the potential dangers of AI technology, with some researchers warning about the risks of human harm within the next decade. Trump’s approach to AI regulation has been characterized as cautious, as he believes excessive oversight could undermine competitiveness against China. He also expressed reluctance to collaborate with Chinese President Xi Jinping on governing AI technology.
Clayton’s panel will assess AI-related risks, current government mechanisms for handling breaches and recommend ways to enhance federal response capabilities within existing authorities. This initiative, as per the task force’s charter, aims to strengthen the government’s ability to address AI-related challenges effectively.
This marks the second time Trump has appointed an adviser to oversee AI-related decisions across the administration. Previously, venture capitalist David Sacks held the AI czar role at the beginning of Trump’s second term. Alongside Clayton, the task force’s leadership team includes Andrew Ferguson, Federal Trade Commission chair; Emil Michael, Pentagon chief technology officer; and Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management. The panel will provide reports to the president and Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff.
