Trump names Clayton AI czar

President Trump announced on Sunday that Jay Clayton, Director of National Intelligence, will lead the White House's new Super Intelligence Force to coordinate federal AI policy.

Clayton's background in finance and law

Before his current role, Clayton was United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Trump reframes AI as super intelligence

Trump prefers the term super intelligence to artificial intelligence and says his force will coordinate engagement with consumers, public interest groups, religious organisations, and AI companies.

Clayton calls AI a security issue

In a CNBC interview last month, Clayton called super intelligence a national security issue and rejected calls for a pause in development, saying other countries continue advancing AI.

“I don't think any American should think that that's a good strategy.”

Unclear impact on AI regulation

Current U.S. AI regulation is limited, with Congress having passed no broad federal law. Some states including California have enacted transparency requirements for AI use.

Clayton replaces Sacks in AI role

David Sacks, Trump's previous AI and crypto czar appointed in December twenty twenty-four, stepped down earlier this year to become co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.