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 rebranding of AI as “super intelligence,” designated Clayton to lead the newly established “Super Intelligence Force” (SIF). This force will oversee interactions with consumers, religious organizations, AI companies, and other stakeholders.
Through his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized SIF’s objective to secure America’s position as a global leader in Super Intelligence and safeguard the interests and well-being of all Americans. The decision, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, follows Clayton’s previous appointment as national intelligence chief in August. Clayton stressed the urgency of maintaining America’s forefront position in AI, stating that the risk of falling behind is substantial.
Clayton mentioned that the task force, under his leadership, has a 120-day timeline to evaluate the risks and opportunities associated with AI. The team will also suggest the federal government’s role in this domain. Trump’s approach to AI regulation has been cautious, as he expressed concerns that excessive oversight could hinder competitiveness against China. He reiterated his reluctance to collaborate with Chinese President Xi Jinping on governing AI technology.
Clayton’s panel will assess AI-related risks and current government protocols for handling breaches and cyber incidents. It will propose strategies to enhance federal response capabilities within the existing framework. This move marks the second instance where Trump has appointed an advisor to supervise AI-related decisions across the administration. The panel, besides Clayton, will include key figures such as Andrew Ferguson, Emil Michael, and Scott Kupor, reporting to both the president and Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff.