President Trump has appointed Jay Clayton, the director of national intelligence, as the head of the government’s efforts to maintain U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence. Clayton will lead the newly established “Super Intelligence Force” (SIF) to coordinate engagement with various stakeholders in the AI sector. The goal of SIF is to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in super intelligence and safeguards the interests of all Americans.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Clayton, who assumed his role as national intelligence chief in August, will spearhead the administration’s strategy to keep the U.S. at the forefront of AI development. Clayton emphasized the importance of being proactive in the AI space, noting the high stakes of falling behind.
The task force led by Clayton will assess the risks and opportunities associated with AI within 120 days and recommend the federal government’s role in this domain. Trump has taken a cautious approach to AI regulation to maintain competitiveness, particularly against China. He expressed reluctance to collaborate with Chinese President Xi Jinping on governing AI technology.
Clayton’s panel will focus on reviewing AI-related risks, enhancing government response capabilities, and strengthening existing reporting mechanisms for AI-related incidents. The task force’s charter outlines its mandate to bolster federal response mechanisms within current legal frameworks.
This marks the second time Trump has appointed an adviser to oversee AI decisions, with David Sacks previously holding the AI czar role. The task force will include key leaders such as Andrew Ferguson, Emil Michael, and Scott Kupor, reporting to the president and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.