Intel Chief Jay Clayton Heads ‘Super Intelligence Force’ as AI Czar

President Donald Trump tapped Office of National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to lead a “Super Intelligence Force,” a task force that will bring together senior officials from across the government to advise on the government’s artificial intelligence strategy. The president announced the effort on social media Sunday.

“The Super Intelligence Force is tasked with coordinating the effort of the Federal Government to ensure that America continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence, which many say is bigger than the Industrial Revolution, and the Internet, and will protect the interests, and improve the lives, of all Americans,” Trump wrote. 

According to Trump, the task force will coordinate the government’s relationship with consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, critical infrastructure providers and AI companies. In addition to Clayton, Trump said FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering and CTO Emil Michael and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor will be a part of the SI Force and report directly to the president and his chief of staff. 

Clayton, who was confirmed as spy chief in August, previously served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and before that as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He replaces former AI and crypto czar David Sacks. Sacks, who was only able to serve part time since he did not step down from his role at Craft Ventures, stepped down in March when he reached his allotted 130 days.  

While Clayton has not made an official statement regarding the appointment, Michael said he was “looking forward” to ensuring the “transformative technology directly serves all Americans.” 

“At the [War Department] we have seen what is possible when red tape is removed and America’s best technology is rapidly put into action. Working alongside America’s leading technology companies, we are putting the most advanced SI capabilities into the hands of our warfighters at speed and scale,” he wrote on social media.

Trump teased the appointment and formation of the new SI Force in September when he vowed to not “hinder or stifle the growth” of AI. “Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!” he posted.

The comments followed recent concerns from tech leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei who wrote the risks include losing control of AI systems, misuse of AI for cyberattacks and bioterrorism and serious economic disruption.  

“A race to the bottom, spurred by commercial incentives, can make these risks more acute,” he said. 

Shortly after, Elon Musk posted on social media Amodei was right.

Last week, the White House released an executive order to rename AI to SI and a new America.gov site that incorporates generative AI to help the public find and access government services.