Trump launches task force on "super intelligence" led by Jay Clayton

President Trump has unveiled the Super Intelligence Force, a new interagency task force meant to keep the United States at the forefront of artificial intelligence development. The initiative continues the administration's push to reshape how the country approaches AI policy and regulation.

Leadership and Mandate#

Jay Clayton, the national intelligence director, will chair the group, effectively serving as the administration's chief AI official. The vice chairs include Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, Emil Michael (Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering), and Scott Kupor (Office of Personnel Management Director). According to reports, the task force has 120 days to produce a comprehensive assessment of both the risks and opportunities that AI presents.

The charter emphasizes both advancing technological leadership and preventing what it frames as excessive regulation—specifically aiming to "develop plans for responding to SI-enabled threats" while avoiding "regulatory capture that would stifle innovation and competition."

The "Super Intelligence" Rebranding#

The new task force's name reflects a broader administrative effort. Trump signed an executive order earlier this year to rebrand AI as "super intelligence," a terminology he has promoted widely. Tech executives who gathered at the White House recently to pledge commitment to safety measures have largely adopted the language, though the effort has had mixed public reception.

Strategic Focus#

Clayton has previously emphasized that retreating from AI competition while nations like China advance would be a strategic mistake. He reiterated this position to the Wall Street Journal, underscoring that a primary risk facing the United States is "not being first" in the technology race.

Read the full reporting at The Wall Street Journal