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 American dominance in artificial intelligence (AI). Trump, who advocates for rebranding AI as “super intelligence,” designated Clayton to oversee the newly established “Super Intelligence Force” (SIF), which will manage interactions with consumers, religious organizations, AI firms, and other stakeholders.
Through a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump outlined SIF’s objective to uphold America’s global leadership in super intelligence and safeguard the interests and well-being of all Americans. This move confirms a previous report by The Wall Street Journal, where Clayton, who assumed the role of national intelligence chief in August, revealed that Trump had chosen him to spearhead the administration’s drive to ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of AI development.
Clayton emphasized the criticality of being a frontrunner in AI innovation, stating that the consequences of lagging behind are significant. He disclosed that the task force led by him will have 120 days to deliver a comprehensive report assessing the risks and opportunities associated with AI and recommending the federal government’s future involvement.
Addressing growing concerns about the safety of AI, particularly the potential for harm to humanity, Trump has taken a cautious stance on AI regulation to prevent stifling competitiveness vis-à-vis China. Clayton’s panel is set to evaluate AI-related risks, review existing government protocols for cybersecurity incidents, and propose strategies to enhance federal response capabilities under current mandates.
Trump’s recent appointment of Clayton marks the second time he has assigned an advisor to oversee AI-related decision-making across the administration. Alongside Clayton, the task force will include prominent figures like 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. The panel will provide regular updates to the president and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.