US President Donald Trump has appointed Jay Clayton, the director of national intelligence, to lead a new taskforce focused on artificial intelligence (AI). The taskforce aims to coordinate government engagement with consumers, companies, and religious organizations. Clayton, a former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, will be joined by Andrew Ferguson, head of the Federal Trade Commission, and Emil Michael, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering. The taskforce will report directly to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
The announcement has faced criticism, particularly from Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who advocates for stricter regulations on AI. Trump has opposed the introduction of laws to control AI development, despite ongoing discussions about the potential risks associated with the technology. Recently, Trump and leaders of major AI firms signed a document that holds them responsible for the safety of their technologies.
Trump has emphasized the importance of maintaining the US's lead in AI development, stating, "whoever wins AI, wins." He has dismissed the idea of a joint venture with China for AI development, citing concerns over national security and the potential loss of sensitive information.
The formation of the taskforce comes amid increasing calls from industry leaders, including executives from OpenAI and Anthropic, for regulatory measures to be implemented in the AI sector. In a recent interview, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the risks of AI but argued that the benefits justify its continued accessibility to the public.
The taskforce's creation follows a breach involving OpenAI, where a rogue agent accessed private data from an Australian government website. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the government only became aware of the breach months after it occurred and indicated that there would be legal consequences.
In a related development, Trump signed an executive order on September 29, directing government agencies to use the term "Super Intelligence" instead of "artificial intelligence" in official communications. This rebranding has raised questions among experts regarding its implications and potential for confusion in the field.
Some tech leaders, including Elon Musk, have begun adopting the new terminology, with Musk announcing plans to rename his AI platform to reflect the change. The taskforce's formation and the ongoing discussions about AI regulation highlight the evolving landscape of technology and its governance.