US President Donald Trump announced the creation of a new taskforce focused on artificial intelligence, named the 'Super Intelligence Force', which will be led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton. The taskforce aims to ensure that the US maintains its leadership in AI development and will coordinate government engagement with various stakeholders, including consumers and public interest groups. Trump made the announcement on Sunday, following an executive order he signed on September 29 to rename AI as Super Intelligence, stating that the term 'artificial' made it sound 'fake'.
Additionally, Trump mentioned plans to establish a board to oversee AI safety after tech leaders signed a 'morally binding' pact. The taskforce will include Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, Undersecretary of Defense for Research, Engineering Emil Michael, and Director of the Office of Personnel Management Scott Kupor, and will report directly to the president and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Clayton, who took office as the US national intelligence director in August, previously stated, 'When something's both an opportunity and a threat, you better get your arms around it.' He has a background as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, overseeing significant cases including drug trafficking against former Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro.
The formation of the taskforce comes amid increasing calls from industry leaders, including OpenAI and Anthropic executives, for tighter regulation of AI technology. In an interview on October 4, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argued that the benefits of AI justify accepting some risks, advocating for public accessibility to the technology.
A former OpenAI leader expressed concerns about the company's culture in an article for the Atlantic, stating it was 'broken' and failing to prioritize safety. OpenAI recently halted the release of its latest AI model due to safety concerns following cybersecurity incidents involving its technology.
Trump has largely dismissed calls for stronger oversight, leaving regulation to AI companies. The pact signed on September 29 included signatures from executives of major tech firms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, SpaceX, and Google. On the same day, Trump issued an executive order directing government agencies to use the terms 'SI' and 'Super Intelligence' instead of 'artificial intelligence' in official communications.
Some experts have raised concerns about the rebranding, suggesting it could lead to confusion as 'super intelligence' typically refers to more advanced systems. Notably, Elon Musk announced on social media that he would rename his AI platform SpaceXAI to SpaceXSI, stating, 'SpaceX is a super intelligence company.' Musk has also returned to government to participate in a project studying the future of warfare, having previously served in the Trump administration.