The U.S. government has a new task force for artificial intelligence, although the administration would now prefer to call the subject “super intelligence.” President Donald Trump announced the Super Intelligence Force on Sunday, saying it would coordinate federal efforts to keep the country ahead in the field and protect Americans’ interests.
Who will lead the force
Trump said the group would be led by national intelligence director Jay Clayton and other administration officials. Reports on its planned structure name Clayton as chair, with Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor as vice chairs.
The announcement follows Trump’s September pledge to create an AI Force and appoint an AI czar. At the time, he said applicants should have high IQs. The new name is consistent with an executive order he signed since then, which sought to replace “AI” with “super intelligence” in the administration’s preferred vocabulary.
A report due in 120 days
The force is expected to have 120 days to prepare a report on AI’s risks and opportunities. Its reported charter calls for plans to respond to threats enabled by super intelligence, while also avoiding overregulation and regulatory capture that could restrict innovation and competition.
That remit sets out a familiar policy balancing act: prepare for dangers without imposing rules that might slow the industry. The announcement does not specify what recommendations the report will contain, or how the administration will resolve cases where those goals pull in different directions.
Clayton has argued that the United States should not retreat from AI development while countries such as China move forward. He has also described the risk of failing to be first as one of the largest concerns. That emphasis puts international competition near the center of the task force’s stated purpose, alongside domestic safety and oversight.
The administration’s new terminology
Trump has previously dismissed much of the AI safety debate, but said in September that he would still create a federal force focused on the technology. The shift from “AI” to “super intelligence” changes the label, not the practical questions facing the group: what threats to plan for, which agencies should respond, and what rules would count as excessive.
The announcement provides a name, leadership structure and deadline. The harder work is in the report, where “avoid overregulation” and “respond to threats” will have to mean more than two aspirations sharing a charter.
Sources
- Trump unveils his new Super Intelligence Force — TechCrunch