Trump names intelligence chief Jay Clayton as new White House AI czar

President Donald Trump has appointed Jay Clayton as the new White House AI czar, a role that involves coordinating the federal government's engagement with AI technology. Clayton, who is the director of national intelligence, will lead what Trump has dubbed the "Super Intelligence Force (SIF)". The SIF aims to oversee the growth of AI while monitoring for any potential "bad" developments.

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Clayton had previously acknowledged that AI is a "gamechanger" but also a "threat". Trump's announcement came after tech industry leaders expressed concerns about AI's rapid development and its potential to harm humans. Despite these concerns, Trump has largely downplayed the issue, emphasizing the importance of AI development for U.S. global competitiveness.

To address these concerns, Trump has established an advisory committee along with the AI czar position. In September, Trump had previously announced the creation of an "AI Force" and a czar to oversee the technology. Clayton, who previously served as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan and as the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, was previously considered for the AI czar position and Trump has expressed confidence in his abilities.