The President has placed Jay Clayton, who serves as the Director of National Intelligence, in charge of overseeing AI policy from the White House. This appointment arrives at a time when those working in technology are raising concerns about the hazards of quickly developing artificial intelligence, which include the possibility that it could become uncontrolled.
On Sunday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Clayton will lead the White House’s new “Super Intelligence Force.” The group will “ensure that America continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence,” according to Trump’s post. He prefers the term “super intelligence” to “artificial intelligence.”
Who Is Jay Clayton
Earlier this year, Clayton was confirmed to head national intelligence. Before taking on that role, he worked as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and also chaired the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The tech industry’s warnings about artificial intelligence have largely been brushed aside by Trump, who has instead tried to reframe the worries raised by its leaders.
The Super Intelligence Force
In his post, Trump named other members of his “Super Intelligence Force.” They include 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 coordination of the Federal Government’s engagement with Consumers, Public Interest Groups, Religious Organizations, Critical Infrastructure Providers, and Super Intelligence Companies will be handled by the force.
Clayton Pushes Back on Pauses
In a CNBC interview last month, Clayton described super intelligence as “national security issue.”. He pushed back against calls for a “pause”, arguing that other countries around the world are still developing AI.
“I don’t think any American should think that that’s a good strategy,” he said.
Trump’s Meeting With Executives
On Tuesday, Trump held talks with AI executives at the White House and stated that leaders from several artificial intelligence companies had signed a voluntary accord. That agreement will feature both internal and external reviews of their work.
This week, the White House unveiled a redesigned government website called America.gov. The site says its content comes from “official government sources.”, sourced through artificial intelligence.
The Czar’s Predecessor
President-elect Trump said in December 2024 that he planned to put David Sacks, a Silicon Valley investor, in charge of AI and crypto policy, giving him a duty to counsel the administration on rules concerning AI. This past year, Sacks quit his post and took up the position of co-chair on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology instead.
Sacks has backed AI leaders Sam Altman and Dario Amodei’s warnings about the technology, and the idea of a “slow down” in AI development. Last month, Sacks wrote on social media that the tech leaders should “stop pretending you need anyone else’s permission” to make such moves.
What This Means for AI Industry
There is no clear signal about what Clayton’s appointment as AI czar will mean for the industry, since the federal government’s current regulation of artificial intelligence is limited. No federal law broadly regulating the use or development of AI has been passed by Congress.
A number of jurisdictions have adopted rules concerning artificial intelligence, with California being among them, and these rules include a requirement for organizations to disclose when the technology is being employed.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec 2024 | Trump announces David Sacks as AI and crypto czar |
| Earlier this year | Clayton confirmed as Director of National Intelligence |
| Sunday | Trump names Clayton as new AI czar |
| Tuesday | Trump meets with AI executives at the White House |
A recurring theme from the White House is the presentation of America as the leader when it comes to AI.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs narrow rules aimed at direct harm, such as forcing companies to disclose safety failures they hid, and is against broad rules that hand the market to the incumbents. The appointment of Jay Clayton as the White House’s new AI czar raises questions about whether the approach will favor the biggest companies over the rest.
Clayton’s background in national intelligence, securities regulation, and the U.S. Attorney’s office gives him a strong legal foundation. But the record of his predecessor, David Sacks, shows where this path can lead: Sacks supported the very warnings about AI’s dangers that Trump has largely dismissed. Now Clayton is pushing back against pauses, saying other countries are still developing AI. That framing leaves room for American companies to move faster, but it does nothing to address the failures companies might hide.
The White House has framed America as the leader in AI, while brushing aside the warnings of those actually building the technology. Clayton’s appointment adds another layer of government oversight, but without a clear signal about what that will mean for the industry. The federal government’s current regulation of AI remains limited, with no broad law passed by Congress.
Source material: “Trump names national intelligence chief Jay Clayton as new AI czar,” NPR.
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