Sourced from BBC News
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump says he has created a new taskforce focused on artificial intelligence, which will be led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton.
The ‘Super Intelligence Force’ will work to ensure that the US continues to lead in the technology’s development and will coordinate the government’s engagement with the public, Trump posted on Sunday.
It comes after the president signed an executive order on September 29 to rename AI as Super Intelligence, after previously saying the word artificial made it sound ‘fake’.
Trump also said last week that he would set up a Board to oversee AI safety after top tech bosses signed what he described as a ‘morally binding’ pact. “The Super Intelligence Force will coordinate the Federal Government’s engagement with Consumers, Public Interest Groups, Religious Organisations, Critical Infrastructure Providers and Super Intelligence Companies,” Trump wrote.
Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson and Undersecretary of Defence for Research, Engineering Emil Michael and Director of the Office of Personnel Management Scott Kupor will also be part of the taskforce. It will report directly to the president and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
The taskforce’s Chief, Clayton, took office as the US national intelligence director in August after Trump’s original choice, Bill Pulte, was rejected by lawmakers. On AI, Clayton has previously said: “When something’s both an opportunity and a threat, you better get your arms around it.” Clayton previously served as US attorney for the Southern District of New York, overseeing several prominent cases, including the drug trafficking case against former Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro.
The announcement of the taskforce follows growing pressure from prominent figures in the industry, including executives of OpenAI and Anthropic, to tighten regulation of the technology.
