U.S. President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Jay Clayton, the current director of national intelligence, as the head of the government’s efforts to uphold American leadership in artificial intelligence (AI). Trump, advocating for the term “super intelligence” instead of AI, designated Clayton to lead the newly established “Super Intelligence Force” (SIF), which will oversee interactions with consumers, religious organizations, AI firms, and other stakeholders.
In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump outlined SIF’s objectives to maintain America’s global leadership in super intelligence and to safeguard the interests and well-being of all Americans. This announcement aligns with a previous report in The Wall Street Journal, where Clayton, who assumed the role of national intelligence chief in August, was mentioned as Trump’s choice to spearhead the government’s efforts in AI advancement.
Clayton emphasized the importance of being at the forefront of AI, stating that the consequences of lagging behind are significant. The newly formed task force, led by Clayton, has been given a 120-day timeline to evaluate the risks and opportunities associated with AI and propose the federal government’s role in this domain.
Concerns about the safety of AI have escalated recently, with some researchers warning of potential threats to human safety within the next decade. Trump’s approach to AI regulation has been characterized as cautious, with a focus on maintaining competitiveness with China. He expressed reluctance to collaborate with Chinese President Xi Jinping on AI governance.
Clayton’s panel will assess AI-related risks, existing government protocols for breaches and incidents, and suggest enhancements to federal response capabilities within current legal frameworks. This marks the second instance where Trump has appointed an advisor to oversee AI-related decisions across the government, with David Sacks previously occupying the role. The task force’s leadership team will include key figures such as Andrew Ferguson, Emil Michael, and Scott Kupor, reporting directly to the president and Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff.
