A White House task force on artificial intelligence will assess the technology’s risks and opportunities, while preventing overregulation that stifles innovation, its leader Jay Clayton has told the Wall Street Journal.
Clayton, the US director of national intelligence, is widely reported to be the new AI czar in the administration of US President Donald Trump, though the appointment is yet to be confirmed.
Clayton would become the second person to hold the informal title after venture capitalist David Sacks, who held the role at the start of Trump’s second term before stepping down.
The new “Super Intelligence Force”, using Trump’s preferred term for artificial intelligence, will have 120 days to report on the risks and opportunities of the technology.
“The president asked that a group be put together that was going to ensure exactly what he said … (that) we stay the leaders in superintelligence, and that the interests of the American people are put first,” Clayton said.
“The risk of not being first is high,” he added.
“Not being first increases the identified and unidentified risks, particularly from our adversaries. Being first will better enable us to address those risks on behalf of the American people.”
A long-time Wall Street lawyer, Clayton represented Goldman Sachs during the 2008 financial crisis and Barclays in its purchase of Lehman Brothers’ assets.
Trump tapped Clayton to lead federal prosecutors in Manhattan at the start of his second term. The Senate confirmed him as intelligence chief in July.
He has no background in the tech industry.
The task force’s charter states that 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,” according to the Journal.
It will also “recommend ways to improve the government’s response capacity under existing authorities”.
Members of the task force include Vice-President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
- The White House AI task force led by Jay Clayton will assess the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence while preventing overregulation that could stifle innovation.
- Jay Clayton, U.S. director of national intelligence, is widely reported to be appointed as the new AI czar under President Donald Trump, though the appointment is unconfirmed.
- The task force, referred to as the "Super Intelligence Force," has 120 days to report on AI-related risks and opportunities.
- The task force charter includes developing plans to respond to SI-enabled threats and recommending improvements for the government's response capacity under existing authorities.
- Members of the task force include Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
How can the White House AI task force balance reducing AI risks and protecting the interests of Americans without stifling technological innovation?