Jay Clayton Appointed as White House AI Czar

Jay Clayton, previously confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence, is now the White House’s new AI czar, according to President Trump. On Sunday, Trump announced on Truth Social that Clayton will head the “Super Intelligence Force,” a new group tasked with keeping America at the forefront of super intelligence. Trump prefers the term “super intelligence” over “artificial intelligence.” This group will coordinate efforts between the federal government and various organizations and companies related to super intelligence.

Before his confirmation as Director of National Intelligence this year, Clayton served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and chaired the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Trump’s announcement follows statements from tech leaders expressing concern over the rapid development of AI, suggesting it could become uncontrollable. However, Trump has reframed these concerns and downplayed such alarms.

On Tuesday, Trump engaged with AI executives at the White House. Post-meeting, he announced that several AI company leaders signed a voluntary accord, including both internal and external reviews of their AI work. Additionally, a revamped government site, America.gov, was launched, claiming to source information from official government sources using artificial intelligence.

Trump also revealed other members of the “Super Intelligence Force,” including Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael. The impact of Clayton’s appointment on the AI industry remains uncertain, as federal AI regulation is limited. Although some states like California have implemented transparency measures regarding AI use, Congress has yet to pass any overarching federal AI laws.

In an interview with CNBC last month, Clayton described super intelligence as a “national security issue.” He opposed calls for pausing AI development because other countries continue their AI advancements. “I don’t think any American should think that that’s a good strategy,” he remarked.

Previously, President Trump appointed David Sacks as an AI and crypto czar in December 2024 to advise on policies. Sacks, who later co-chaired the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, had endorsed warnings from AI leaders like Sam Altman and Dario Amodei concerning AI risks. Despite stepping down earlier this year, Sacks encouraged tech leaders to act independently regarding AI development without seeking external approvals.