Bessent eyed for Trump’s ‘AI czar’
The Treasury Secretary has long played a central role in administration policymaking on the issue.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is being considered as a potential candidate for President Donald Trump's new "AI czar" role, according to three sources familiar with the situation. Bessent has been deeply involved in the Trump administration's AI policy and recently engaged in a significant conversation with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng during UN General Assembly, discussing a possible US-China "notification mechanism" for AI-related security threats.
The White House has not yet decided on the AI czar position, which could be filled by a dark-horse candidate. If Bessent were appointed, his existing role as Treasury Secretary would not prevent him from taking on the new position, as shown by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who held the "energy czar" title simultaneously. White House spokesman Kush Desai cautioned that any reports about pending personnel decisions should be regarded as speculation until officially announced.
The Treasury Department declined to comment on the matter. Bessent's interest in AI policy intensified this year when financial institutions alerted him to potential vulnerabilities of advanced AI systems. He emphasized in a CNBC interview that humans are ultimately accountable for AI actions. Other contenders for the AI czar role include White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor.
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