Clayton's AI task force has 120 days to map risks and gains
President Trump named Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as his AI czar and head of a new Super Intelligence Force. The group has 120 days to report on the risks and benefits of advanced AI. Its findings could shape how the government buys, uses and regulates AI.
President Trump has given his top spy a second job. Over the weekend, he named Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as the White House's artificial intelligence czar and leader of a new "Super Intelligence Force," CNBC, NPR and Politico reported.
The task force has 120 days to study the risks and benefits of powerful AI. Then it must tell the government what to do, CNBC and the Washington Examiner reported. Its members include Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, Pentagon research and engineering chief Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor.
Clayton will produce a report laying out the dangers and benefits of advanced AI, the Examiner reported. That could cover threats such as AI hacking. It could also cover how agencies use the tools in daily work.
Clayton's background is in finance and law, not tech. He ran the Securities and Exchange Commission in Trump's first term. Later he was the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan. The new title adds to a heavy job. He already oversees the nation's spy agencies during a war with Iran.
The move comes as AI is spreading fast across the economy and into politics. Data centers that run AI are pushing up demand for electricity, and voters in places like Ohio say they worry about higher power bills. In California, the attorney general has subpoenaed OpenAI over hacking incidents tied to AI agents.
The administration has mostly favored a light touch on AI rules, arguing that heavy regulation would help China pull ahead. Critics, including some safety researchers, say the government is moving too slowly to manage risks.
The White House has not said whether the task force's report will be made public.
What we know: Clayton leads the task force, and it has 120 days to report.
What we don't: What rules or actions it will recommend, and whether its findings will be released.
Where outlets agree CNBC, NPR and the Washington Examiner all report that Trump named Jay Clayton AI czar and gave his new task force 120 days to report.
Where they differ Supporters say putting the spy chief in charge treats AI as a security priority, while critics question giving the role to an official without a tech background who already runs a major agency.