Jay Clayton named White House AI czar by Trump to lead task force

Jay Clayton Takes Helm of White House Artificial Intelligence Strategy

President Donald Trump named Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as the new White House AI czar, positioning the nation's intelligence chief to oversee federal engagement with the rapidly evolving technology sector. According to announcements made on Sunday, Clayton will lead the administration's newly formed "Super Intelligence Force".

Trump prefers the term "super intelligence" to "artificial intelligence." The newly established task force will coordinate the federal government's engagement with consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, critical infrastructure providers, and super intelligence companies, according to presidential statements.

The appointment arrives as the administration navigates a complex technological landscape marked by both rapid innovation and vocal warnings from industry leaders. Trump previously floated Clayton's name for the role, telling Axios in September that Clayton is a good man and calling the prospect a good idea.

Task Force Mandate and Leadership Structure

The newly minted SIF task force has a strict timeline. CNBC reported that the group will have 120 days to research and report on artificial intelligence's risks and opportunities, while offering recommendations regarding the federal government's responsibilities toward the technology. The task force will report to Trump and his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, the president said.

Alongside Clayton, the task force includes several high-ranking administration officials:

Task Force Member	Current Government Role
Andrew Ferguson	Federal Trade Commission Chairman
Scott Kupor	Office of Personnel Management Director
Emil Michael	Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and Chief Technology Officer

The announcement follows a series of administrative shifts. David Sacks, a Silicon Valley investor who previously served as the administration's AI and crypto czar, stepped down from that role when his designation as a special government employee ended. Sacks now serves as co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

National Security, Regulation, and Industry Reactions

Clayton brings a diverse legal and regulatory background to his expanded portfolio. Before being confirmed earlier this year to lead national intelligence—giving him authority over the nation's 18 intelligence agencies—he served as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Clayton addressed the dual nature of the technology.

"When something's both an opportunity and a threat, you better get your arms around it,"

Jay Clayton, Director of National Intelligence, via The Guardian

He also called super intelligence a national security issue during an CNBC interview, pushing back against calls for a pause in developing the technology because international competitors are continuing their own advancement.

The broader regulatory environment remains fragmented. Current artificial intelligence regulation by the U.S. Government is limited, with Congress having passed no federal law broadly regulating the use or development of AI, though some states like California have enacted measures about AI. Trump has largely brushed aside warnings from tech leaders who argue that AI is developing too rapidly and could go rogue. Instead, the president has emphasized that continued development is paramount to defeating China in the global AI race.

The administration's strategy relies heavily on voluntary compliance rather than strict federal mandates. White House officials met with AI executives, culminating in an accord where developers signed on to voluntary safety standards involving internal and external reviews of their work. SpaceX chief Elon Musk reacted to the administration's terminology on social media, stating that SI was better than AI and announcing he was renaming his aerospace company's AI unit from SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI.

Next Steps

With Clayton officially installed as the White House AI czar, the Super Intelligence Force task force begins its work. Meanwhile, the administration also launched a revamped government website this week, America.gov, which says it is sourced via artificial intelligence from "official government sources."