US Treasury secretary could take on AI czar role, source says

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent may be appointed as the United States' new AI czar, according to a source familiar with the discussions, as lawmakers in Washington increase concerns over the risks associated with artificial intelligence technology. President Donald Trump has repeatedly dismissed AI concerns and argued that additional regulation is unnecessary.

Treasury had not yet commented on Bessent's potential new role, which was first reported by Semafor. Trump announced on Saturday that he intends to appoint an AI adviser, referred to as an "AI czar," and establish an "AI force," but did not provide details about the initiatives or their implementation. Bessent participated in talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York on Sunday ahead of this week's summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington.

The talks centered on AI extensively. After the talks, Bessent stated to reporters that Washington had proposed a new AI safety notification mechanism and a US-China AI dialogue, with a focus on national security concerns. Trump previously appointed Bessent, a former hedge fund manager, to spearhead a major overhaul of US trade policy, negotiate with Ukraine about critical minerals, and temporarily lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

He also acts as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, and his Treasury is spearheading an economic isolation effort against Iran through sanctions and other measures.