Trump Appoints Jay Clayton to Lead New Federal AI Task Force
U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead a newly formed federal task force dedicated to artificial intelligence. The group, which the administration has branded the Super Intelligence Force, is tasked with coordinating federal efforts to maintain American leadership in the sector while addressing security and safety concerns. The announcement follows a high-level White House meeting where major technology executives signed a voluntary accord to self-police the development of advanced AI systems.
According to AI Magazine, an official noted that the technology carries very real risks and the mechanisms to address those risks are still under discussion.
The White House Accord on Super Intelligence outlines controls and audits, including independent external safety evaluations, which President Trump described as morally binding.
Task Force Mandate and Leadership
The Super Intelligence Force will serve as the primary federal body for engaging with technology companies, consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, and critical infrastructure providers. According to the administration, the task force is designed to ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of what the President has described as a technological shift larger than the Industrial Revolution or the internet. The group is expected to report directly to President Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
In addition to Clayton, the leadership team includes Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor. The administration has also initiated a process to update federal definitions, with an executive order replacing the term artificial intelligence with super intelligence across executive branch operations. The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology has been given 60 days to submit legislative proposals for these updated definitions.
According to an executive order, the executive branch must use the terms Super Intelligence and SI in place of Artificial Intelligence and AI to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Strategic Context and Regulatory Approach
The formation of the task force reflects the administration's ongoing effort to balance rapid technological innovation with national security requirements. President Trump has consistently argued that overly restrictive regulations could disadvantage the United States in its competition with China. Instead, the administration has prioritized voluntary safeguards and industry-led responsibility. This approach was reinforced during the recent White House luncheon, where leaders from companies including SpaceX, Tesla, Meta, Google, and NVIDIA committed to internal controls and external reviews. The task force is expected to produce a report within 120 days, examining the government's role in AI oversight and recommending ways to strengthen responses to potential breaches or security incidents under existing legal authorities.