US Treasury Secretary Could Take on AI Czar Role, Source Says
Sept 22 (Reuters) - US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent could become President Donald Trump’s new AI czar, a source familiar with the discussions said on Tuesday, as fears grow among lawmakers in Washington about the risks posed by AI technology.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent may assume the role of artificial intelligence (AI) czar for President Donald Trump, according to a source familiar with the discussions, as concerns escalate over the risks associated with AI technology. This potential appointment comes as Trump has downplayed the concerns about AI and argued against the need for additional regulation.
The Treasury has not yet commented on Bessent's possible new role, which was initially reported by Semafor. A second source confirmed to Reuters that no decision had been made. On Saturday, Trump announced plans to appoint an AI adviser, or an "AI czar," and establish an "AI force," though he did not provide details about these initiatives or their implementation.
Bessent participated in talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York on Sunday, prior to the upcoming summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. The talks centered on AI, with Washington proposing an AI safety notification mechanism and a US-China AI dialogue, with a focus on national security concerns.
Bessent, a former hedge fund manager, has previously led efforts to revamp US trade policy, negotiate with Ukraine about critical minerals, and temporarily lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He currently serves as acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service and his Treasury is spearheading a campaign to isolate Iran economically through sanctions and other measures.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
