Trump unveils his new Super Intelligence Force

President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a Super Intelligence Force that he says will coordinate federal efforts to keep the United States at the forefront of advanced AI technology. In a post on his social network Truth Social, Trump described the unit's mission as ensuring American leadership in what his administration terms "super intelligence."

According to reporting in the Wall Street Journal, national intelligence director Jay Clayton will chair the task force, effectively positioning him as the administration's AI or "SI" czar. The group will include several vice chairs: Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor.

The task force has been given 120 days to develop a report outlining the opportunities and risks posed by AI, and its charter reportedly directs the group to draft plans for responding to SI-enabled threats while avoiding overregulation and regulatory capture that could hinder innovation and competition. Clayton has previously warned that it would be irresponsible for the U.S. to retreat on AI while other countries such as China advance, and he reiterated concerns that a major risk is "not being first."

The announcement follows steps this year by the administration to rebrand AI as "super intelligence," including an executive order, and comes after a White House meeting where technology executives signed a non-binding safety pledge. Coverage noted that the pledge contained a notable typo. Trump had earlier called the broader AI safety debate a hoax and said he would form an AI Force and appoint an "AI czar."