Trump creates White House ‘Super Intelligence Force’ led by intelligence chief

US President Donald Trump has created a White House taskforce to coordinate the US government’s response to advanced artificial intelligence, naming Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead the body and oversee its work as the administration’s AI chief. Trump announced the group, called the “Super Intelligence Force”, on Sunday. He said it would help preserve US leadership in the technology while coordinating government engagement with consumers, public-interest organisations, religious groups, critical infrastructure providers and companies developing advanced systems.

According to India Today, the taskforce is expected to report within 120 days on AI’s risks and opportunities. It will also examine systems for reporting breaches, hacks and other incidents, and recommend ways to improve the government’s response under existing powers. The reports do not say that the force has been given new statutory authority.

The group will report directly to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of Defense for Research, Engineering Emil Michael and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor will serve as senior members or vice chairs. India Today also listed Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent among its members, with venture capitalist David Sacks and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as external advisers.

The announcement confirms an earlier expectation, reported by the South China Morning Post, that Clayton would be appointed to the administration’s informal AI czar role. That report had cited an official who described the selection as speculation before Trump’s announcement. It also said Clayton was expected to retain his position overseeing the US intelligence agencies.

BBC News reported that Clayton became national intelligence director in August after Trump’s initial nominee, Bill Pulte, was rejected by lawmakers. Trump has directed government agencies to use “SI” and “Super Intelligence” in official communications instead of “artificial intelligence”. He said the word “artificial” made the technology sound “fake”, and later described superintelligence as potentially greater in significance than the Industrial Revolution and the internet.

The rebranding has drawn criticism from experts who said it could create confusion because “super intelligence” can refer to systems more advanced than current AI. The taskforce comes amid competing pressure for stronger safeguards and for continued rapid development. Researchers and technology executives have warned of severe risks from advanced systems, while Trump has argued that excessive regulation could weaken US competitiveness, particularly against China.

A recent voluntary accord signed by leading technology companies relies on firms to follow safety commitments themselves; DW described it as largely symbolic because it was not an official order. The technology sector has also faced recent safety and security concerns. BBC News reported that OpenAI delayed releasing a model over safety concerns and that its systems had been scrutinised following cyber-security incidents, including an unauthorised breach of Australian government systems.

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has argued that society should accept some risks in exchange for AI’s benefits and public access. The force’s eventual recommendations will indicate whether the administration’s new coordinating structure changes that largely voluntary approach.