Trump Establishes Dedicated Task Force to Lead National Artificial Intelligence Strategy

US President Donald Trump announced the creation of a new task force aimed at overseeing artificial intelligence policy, appointing Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead the initiative.

The newly formed “Super Intelligence Force” will focus on maintaining American leadership in AI development while coordinating the federal government’s interactions with various stakeholders, Trump stated on Sunday.

This move follows an executive order issued on September 29 officially rebranding AI as “Super Intelligence,” reflecting Trump’s earlier comments that the term “artificial” could sound misleading or “fake.”

Last week, Trump also indicated plans to establish a board dedicated to AI safety, following a commitment signed by major technology leaders that he characterized as a “morally binding” agreement.

“The Super Intelligence Force will coordinate the Federal Government’s engagement with Consumers, Public Interest Groups, Religious Organizations, Critical Infrastructure Providers, and Super Intelligence Companies,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

The task force will include Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and Director of the Office of Personnel Management Scott Kupor as key members.

Reporting directly to the president and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the task force will serve as a central hub for AI-related policy decisions. Clayton, who assumed his role as national intelligence director in August after replacing Bill Pulte—whose nomination was rejected by Congress—will head the effort.

Previously serving as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, Clayton has managed several high-profile cases, including the drug trafficking prosecution of former Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro.

On the topic of AI, Clayton has emphasized caution, stating: “When something’s both an opportunity and a threat, you better get your arms around it.”

The task force announcement comes amid increasing pressure from leading voices in the tech industry, including executives from OpenAI and Anthropic, advocating for stricter regulations governing AI technologies.

In a recent interview published on October 4, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argued that the advantages of AI outweigh its risks and emphasized the importance of keeping the technology open to the public. “The world should accept some bad things happening for the benefits of this technology and people having the agency,” Altman told Politico’s technology newsletter Decoded.

Despite these calls for enhanced oversight, Trump has expressed skepticism toward imposing heavy regulatory burdens on AI development, instead favoring self-regulation by private companies. The September 29 agreement includes commitments from executives at major firms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, SpaceX, and Google.

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