President Trump announced Saturday that he is forming an “AI Force” to oversee artificial intelligence development in the United States. The move comes as the administration rejects warnings that AI could become a superintelligence threatening human existence, calling those fears a hoax.
In a Truth Social post, Trump vowed to foster AI’s growth in the country. He compared AI to “the next Industrial Revolution, or Internet,” and estimated it could reach as much as 25% of the country’s GDP. Trump also said the U.S. is racing against China in AI development.
The AI Force Plan
Trump’s plan mirrors the creation of Space Force, which he established during his first term. The president said he will soon officially appoint an “AI Czar” to lead the effort.
The appointment follows a familiar pattern. In December 2024, Trump appointed David Sacks as the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Sacks served as a special government employee.
Sacks stepped down in March 2026, telling CBS News last week that fears about AI’s threat to humanity are overblown. He argued that while caution is warranted, AI development should continue.
Trump’s Rejection of Superintelligence Fears
Trump dismissed the idea that AI could become a superintelligence threatening human existence. He called those fears a hoax.
He also rejected the need for a separate regulatory body. Instead, he pointed to the justice system as a safeguard against bad uses of AI. He wrote that the justice system already acts as a safeguard.
The president’s argument rests on the idea that existing legal systems can handle AI misuse. He did not specify which laws would apply or how they would be enforced.
The Race Against China
Trump framed AI development as a competition with China. He said the U.S. is racing against China in AI development, though he did not elaborate on the nature of that race.
The comparison to Space Force is notable. That office was created to assert American leadership in space. The AI Force appears designed to do the same for AI.
The Sacks Appointment
Sacks served as the White House A.I. & Crypto Czar from December 2024 until March 2026. His departure came after he told CBS News that fears about AI’s threat to humanity are overblown.
In an interview with CBS News last week, Sacks said fears about AI’s threat to humanity are overblown. He argued that while caution is warranted, AI development should continue.
His comments echo Trump’s own position. Both men argue that the benefits of AI outweigh the risks.
The Industry’s Response
Not everyone agrees. Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon warned on Sept. 8 that Anthropic and OpenAI are “gambling with our lives” by developing self-improving “superintelligence.”
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei told CBS News “Sunday Morning” that “there are real dangers” with AI. He added that the “industry lied to people about the fact that this technology had risks.”
Amodei’s comments stand in contrast to Trump’s dismissal of superintelligence fears as a hoax. The CEO of Anthropic argues that the industry has misled the public about the technology’s dangers.
The AI Force’s Scope
The exact scope of the AI Force remains unclear. Trump has not detailed its duties or staffing.
What is clear is the administration’s position. Trump wants AI to keep growing without interference, with oversight left to the criminal justice system.
The White House has not said whether the AI Force will:
- Regulate AI development
- Coordinate federal research
- Advise the president on AI policy
The Question Ahead
The administration has spoken. The AI Force is coming. Whether it changes anything remains to be seen.
Trump’s prediction that AI could reach 25% of GDP is bold, but predictions have a way of being wrong. For now, the administration has made its case.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs oversight aimed at actual harm, like forcing companies to disclose safety failures they hid, and is against federal licensing, slowdowns, and broad new rulebooks that hand the market to the incumbents. The administration’s approach—putting oversight into the hands of the justice system—sounds like a way of saying the problem doesn’t exist.
The paper’s position against broad new rulebooks is aimed at avoiding the trap where only the biggest firms can afford the licensing fees and compliance costs. Here, the administration is taking the opposite route: not creating a regime at all, and leaving it to prosecutors to handle whatever trouble comes up. That leaves nothing behind to protect smaller companies or the public from hidden failures.
The reader should watch whether the AI Force actually does anything beyond serving as a symbol of presidential leadership, much like Space Force did before it. The paper wants narrow rules aimed at real harm, not a regime that freezes today’s leaders in place and locks out whoever would challenge them. The administration’s own framing—that the justice system already handles AI misuse—says little about whether it will actually handle anything at all.
Source material: “Trump vows to form "AI Force," says he won't allow slowdown of AI development,” CBS News.
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