President Donald Trump has appointed Jay Clayton, director of national intelligence, as the new White House AI czar to lead a federal task force on artificial intelligence. The 'Super Intelligence Force' aims to ensure America leads in the development of AI, which Trump calls 'bigger than the Industrial Revolution and the Internet.'
Clayton, who previously served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and chairman of the SEC, will lead the task force alongside Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael. The group will report to Trump and his chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
The task force will engage with consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, critical infrastructure providers, and AI companies to protect American interests and improve lives. Trump's announcement follows meetings with AI executives at the White House, where leaders signed a voluntary accord to self-police AI development. The U.S. government has not yet passed federal AI regulations, with some states like California enacting transparency requirements.
Clayton has described super intelligence as a 'national security issue' and opposed calls for a 'pause' in AI development, arguing that other countries are advancing the technology. Trump's approach contrasts with Silicon Valley leaders like David Sacks, who have advocated for a 'slow down' in AI development and called for transparency in its use.