Trump Creates ‘Super Intelligence Force’ To Keep US Ahead In AI Race, Names Jay Clayton Chief
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
U.S. President Donald Trump has created a new "Super Intelligence Force" (SIF) to coordinate the US government’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI), with Jay Clayton, Director of National Intelligence, as its head. This is part of the Administration's initiative to create a plan for how the U.S. will develop and use AI.
The announcement follows recent debate about the impact of artificial intelligence on national security, global trade competition, regulatory policy, and the possible dangers that increasingly sophisticated AI systems could present.
The SIF will be reporting directly to President Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
"The Super Intelligence Force will coordinate the Federal Government's engagement with Consumers, Public Interest Groups, Religious Organizations, Critical Infrastructure Providers, and Super Intelligence Companies," Trump wrote in a statement.
Jay Clayton To Lead New Taskforce
Clayton, who took office as director of national intelligence in August, will lead the new taskforce while continuing in his intelligence role.
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Undersecretary of Defence for Research, Engineering Emil Michael and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor will also serve on the taskforce.
The group will report directly to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Reuters reported that the taskforce is expected to produce a report within 120 days examining the risks and opportunities associated with the technology and recommending the federal government’s role.
Clayton has previously described the technology as both an opportunity and a threat, saying: “When something's both an opportunity and a threat, you better get your arms around it.”
From AI to “Super Intelligence”
The initiative reflects an increasing trend by President Trump to refer to "Super Intelligence" (SI), as opposed to simply referring to it as "Artificial Intelligence" (AI).
The September 29 order says federal departments and agencies should use the new terminology in official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents and other non-statutory documents.
The order defines “Super Intelligence” and “SI” for federal purposes as the technologies and systems covered by the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence. It also directs the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology to propose legislative language for a federal definition of the new terms within 60 days.
The rebranding has prompted questions from experts over whether using “super intelligence” could create confusion, given that the term is generally associated with systems that surpass human capabilities rather than the broader range of technologies currently described as AI.
Walking the Line Between Innovation and Regulation
Trump has repeatedly cautioned that excessive regulation could undermine American competitiveness, particularly in the race against China to develop advanced AI.
At the same time, the rapid advancement of AI has generated growing concern among researchers, lawmakers and technology experts.
Potential risks include job displacement, cyberattacks, misuse of AI for weapons or biological threats, privacy concerns and the possibility of increasingly autonomous systems becoming difficult to control.
The creation of the Super Intelligence Force suggests that the administration recognises that some level of federal coordination may be necessary, even while maintaining its broader emphasis on innovation and limited regulation.
