President Donald Trump announced the creation of a new "Super Intelligence Force," saying in a Sunday morning post on his social network Truth Social that Jay Clayton, the national intelligence director, will lead the body. Trump said the force will coordinate federal efforts to ensure the United States continues to lead the world in what his administration now calls "super intelligence." According to his post, the technology is viewed by many as more transformative than the Industrial Revolution or the internet and will protect American interests and improve citizens' lives.
Background and composition
In September, amid debates about AI safety that the president characterized as a hoax by "Radical Left Dumocrats," Trump said he would form an AI Force and appoint an AI czar, adding in his remarks that "Only High I.Q. individuals need apply!" He subsequently signed an executive order that seeks to rebrand AI as "super intelligence." This week, technology executives met at the White House to sign a non-binding safety pledge; reports noted the pledge contained a conspicuous typo.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Jay Clayton will chair the Super Intelligence Force, effectively making him the administration's AI/SI czar. The task force's vice chairs are reported to be Andrew Ferguson, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission; Emil Michael, Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering; and Scott Kupor, Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
Mandate and objectives
According to reports, the task force will have 120 days to produce a report on the risks and opportunities posed by AI (rebranded as "super intelligence"). Clayton, who has previously warned that it would be irresponsible for the United States to "back away" from AI while countries such as China advance, told the Wall Street Journal that one of the greatest risks is "not being first."
The task force's reported charter states it will "develop plans for responding to SI-enabled threats to our society, while preventing overregulation and regulatory capture that would stifle innovation and competition."
Why this matters
The announcement signals an effort by the administration to reshape the policy framing around artificial intelligence by adopting new terminology and emphasizing national competitiveness. The 120-day timeline and the task force's specific plans will be important to watch for assessing how the initiative affects technology development, regulatory approaches, and international competition.
Key named participants
- Jay Clayton — National Intelligence Director, Chair of the Super Intelligence Force
- Andrew Ferguson — Chair, Federal Trade Commission, Vice Chair
- Emil Michael — Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering, Vice Chair
- Scott Kupor — Director, Office of Personnel Management, Vice Chair
Further details on the task force's work plan and operational steps are expected to become available in the coming weeks.
