The Trump administration has created a new White House task force to examine the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence, with Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton leading the effort.
The group, described by the administration as the “Super Intelligence Force,” will have 120 days to produce a report examining AI-related risks, opportunities and what role the federal government should play in overseeing the technology.
Clayton will effectively serve as the Trump administration’s new AI czar while continuing to lead the U.S. intelligence community.
Jay Clayton Takes Charge of the AI Task Force
Clayton, who became director of national intelligence in August, confirmed his new AI role in an interview reported by The Wall Street Journal.
He said President Donald Trump asked for a group that would ensure the United States remains a leader in superintelligence while putting the interests of Americans first.
The task force is expected to examine both the potential benefits of advanced AI and the risks created by increasingly capable systems.
Clayton has already described AI as both an opportunity and a threat. In a previous discussion about the technology, he argued that the United States needs to take the risks seriously without giving up its competitive position.
What Will the “Super Intelligence Force” Do?
According to reporting on the task force’s charter, the group will examine AI-related risks and the government’s existing mechanisms for reporting incidents such as breaches and hacks.
It will also recommend ways to improve the federal government’s ability to respond to AI-related incidents using existing authorities.
The 120-day deadline means the task force is expected to provide recommendations relatively quickly as the administration develops its broader AI policy.
The group’s work could influence how the U.S. government approaches AI security, national security and oversight of frontier AI systems.
Who Is Part of the Task Force?
Clayton will lead the group, with Emil Michael, Scott Kupor and Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson serving as vice chairs, according to the reported task-force structure.
Other members include Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
External advisers reportedly include former AI czar David Sacks and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The composition reflects the administration’s view of AI as an issue that extends beyond technology policy into national security, defense, economic policy and government regulation.
Trump Wants the U.S. to Stay Ahead in AI
The new task force comes as the Trump administration continues to emphasize U.S. leadership in advanced AI.
Clayton described the risk of the United States falling behind as significant, while the administration has repeatedly argued that excessive regulation could weaken America’s position against China.
Trump has favored a lighter regulatory approach and has recently supported voluntary safeguards involving AI companies rather than immediately imposing broad new federal requirements.
That approach creates an important tension for Clayton’s new task force.
The group is being asked to examine AI risks and recommend how the government should respond, while the administration simultaneously wants to avoid policies that could slow down U.S. AI development.
New Task Force Comes After Voluntary AI Safety Agreement
The task force was announced shortly after a White House meeting involving major technology and AI companies.
Companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta and Nvidia agreed to voluntary measures involving AI safety, including external audits and stronger internal controls.
Trump described the agreement as a significant commitment to AI safety, but the framework does not create the same legal obligations as federal regulation.
The new task force could therefore become an important mechanism for evaluating whether existing voluntary measures are sufficient or whether additional government action may eventually be necessary.
AI Safety and National Security Are Becoming Closely Linked
Clayton’s appointment also signals how closely the Trump administration is connecting artificial intelligence with national security.
Advanced AI systems can affect cybersecurity, intelligence gathering, critical infrastructure and other sensitive areas. The task force’s focus on breaches, hacks and incident reporting suggests that security risks will be an important part of its review.
At the same time, the administration wants to maintain America’s lead in AI development.
The challenge will be finding a balance between preventing serious risks and avoiding policies that could slow innovation or push AI development overseas.
What Happens Next?
The immediate deadline is the task force’s 120-day report.
That report is expected to outline the risks and opportunities associated with AI and examine how much responsibility the federal government should take for managing those risks.
For the AI industry, the recommendations could become an important indicator of whether the Trump administration will continue relying primarily on voluntary safeguards or eventually move toward stronger federal oversight.
For now, the administration’s message is clear: the United States wants to remain at the forefront of advanced AI while increasing its ability to understand and respond to the technology’s risks.
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