Washington: US President Donald Trump announced the formation of a new task force named the “Super Intelligence Force” on Sunday, aimed at ensuring the United States continues to lead the world in artificial intelligence. Announcing the move on Truth Social, Trump said the group would coordinate the federal government’s engagement with consumers, public interest groups, religious organisations, critical infrastructure providers and AI companies.
The task force will be led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, along with Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Pentagon Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor. The group will report directly to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Trump said the technology, which he has rebranded “Super Intelligence” across the executive branch via a September 22 executive order, represents a shift bigger than the Industrial Revolution and the internet, and that the task force’s mandate is to keep America at the forefront of the field while protecting the interests and improving the lives of Americans. The task force has been given 120 days to study AI’s risks and opportunities and offer recommendations on the federal government’s responsibilities regarding the technology.
The announcement comes amid intensifying competition between the United States and China in AI development, with Trump having previously warned that any slowdown in American AI progress could hand China an advantage. Clayton, who served as Securities and Exchange Commission chairman during Trump’s first term before leading federal prosecutors in Manhattan, currently serves as Director of National Intelligence and has now been entrusted with steering the government’s AI efforts.
The move follows a White House meeting last week with leaders of major AI companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Nvidia and Elon Musk’s SpaceX AI unit, where Trump announced a voluntary accord under which AI firms agreed to self-police their technology. Clayton underscored the need for the US to remain at the forefront of AI, saying that falling behind could expose the country to risks, both known and unknown, and that staying ahead would strengthen America’s ability to address those risks.