Trump creates new AI oversight task force to coordinate federal policy

US President Donald Trump has announced a new federal task force focused on artificial intelligence, saying it will be called the Super Intelligence Force. The group is intended to coordinate the government's engagement with the public and with industry as the administration seeks to keep the United States at the forefront of AI development. Trump said the task force will report directly to him and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

Sponsored

The task force will be led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, according to Trump's post. He also named Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor as members. Trump said the group will coordinate federal engagement with consumers, public-interest groups, religious organisations, critical infrastructure providers and AI companies.

The announcement comes after growing pressure from prominent figures in the technology sector to tighten oversight of AI. Trump said last week that he would set up a board to oversee AI safety after top technology executives signed what he described as a morally binding pact to regulate the technology. The latest move suggests the White House is trying to formalise its approach to AI policy while still leaving significant room for industry participation.

The decision is significant because AI regulation has become a major policy issue in the United States, with debate centring on safety, competition, public access and national leadership. The inclusion of officials from the intelligence, trade, defence and personnel systems indicates that the administration is treating AI as both a governance issue and a strategic technology matter. It also reflects the broader tension between calls for stronger oversight and the view, backed by some industry leaders, that the technology should remain widely accessible.

Sponsored

Trump has previously dismissed calls for stronger oversight and has largely left companies to regulate themselves. The announcement follows a 29 September pact signed by executives from firms including OpenAI, Anthropic, SpaceX and Google, which was presented as a voluntary commitment on AI safety. In an interview published on 4 October, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said the benefits of AI justify accepting some of its risks and argued that the technology should remain accessible to the public.

What remains unclear is how much authority the Super Intelligence Force will have in practice and whether it will lead to new rules, guidance or enforcement measures. It is also not yet clear how the task force will balance the interests of government agencies, companies and outside groups named by Trump. The next developments to watch are whether the White House sets out a formal mandate, and whether the new body changes the administration's approach to AI safety and regulation.

#artificialintelligence #DonaldTrump #JayClayton #technologypolicy #UnitedStates