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 advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and maintaining U.S. dominance in the field. Trump, who has advocated for AI to be referred to as “super intelligence,” revealed that Clayton will head the newly established “Super Intelligence Force” (SIF), responsible for coordinating with various stakeholders such as consumers, religious institutions, and AI companies.
Through a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump outlined that the primary goal of SIF is to uphold America’s leadership in Super Intelligence and safeguard the interests and well-being of all Americans. This move follows a report by The Wall Street Journal confirming Clayton’s appointment as the head of the administration’s initiative to ensure the United States remains at the forefront of AI development.
Clayton emphasized the urgency of maintaining a leading position in AI, stating that falling behind could entail significant risks. The task force led by Clayton has been given a 120-day deadline to assess the potential risks and benefits associated with AI and recommend the federal government’s role in this rapidly evolving technology landscape.
In response to growing concerns about AI safety, particularly regarding the potential risks of the technology, Trump has taken a measured approach to regulation, expressing reservations about excessive oversight affecting competitiveness against China. Clayton’s panel will focus on evaluating AI-related risks, enhancing government response mechanisms to breaches and incidents, and proposing strategies to strengthen federal capabilities within existing frameworks.
This marks the second time during Trump’s tenure that an adviser has been appointed to oversee AI-related decisions across the government. Alongside Clayton, key figures in the task force 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. The panel is set to report directly to the president and Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff.