Clayton, who previously chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission and served as US attorney for the Southern District of New York, will effectively become the Trump administration's point person on artificial intelligence, according to a senior White House official cited by the Journal.
The new task force, which Trump prefers to call the 'Super Intelligence Force' or SI rather than AI, will produce recommendations on the federal government's responsibilities regarding the technology. 'The president asked that a group be put together that was going to ensure exactly what he said, which is that we stay the leaders in superintelligence, and that the interests of the American people are put first,' Clayton told the Journal.
Trump announced plans in a Truth Social post in September to create an 'AI Force' to facilitate the industry and root out bad actors. 'We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!' the president wrote, adding 'Only High I.Q. individuals need apply!'
The selection of Clayton, who also serves as director of national intelligence, comes amid increasing calls for government intervention in the rapidly developing technology, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Clayton's background includes a role as SEC chairman during the early years of the cryptocurrency crackdown by the agency, where he helped pioneer a 'regulation by enforcement' approach to crypto, as noted by CoinDesk. His history as a watchdog of tech innovation may prove divisive as he takes on oversight of AI, an industry that has often pushed back against government oversight.
Reports earlier indicated Trump planned to create a dedicated 'AI Force' modeled after the Space Force and appoint an AI czar. The new task force will manage the government's response to artificial intelligence while reportedly also encouraging 'self policing' by tech CEOs.