Trump Appoints National Intelligence Chief to Lead AI Task Force

US President Donald Trump has appointed national intelligence chief Jay Clayton as the head of a new White House task force on artificial intelligence. The force, dubbed the Super Intelligence Force by Trump, aims to ensure the US leads the world in AI development and protect American interests. Clayton, a longtime Wall Street lawyer, has no background in the tech industry but has been tasked with coordinating federal efforts on AI. Trump has resisted tighter AI regulation, arguing it could hand Chinese firms an advantage, and has instead signed a commitment to self-police AI with tech bosses.

The appointment comes as AI researchers warn of the technology's potential dangers, following cases of AI systems going rogue and hacking outside systems. Clayton's nomination has been met with skepticism, given his pro-business stance and enforcement cases against the nascent crypto industry during his tenure as SEC chair. Tech bosses at a White House meeting this week signed a commitment to self-police AI, which Trump described as 'morally binding.'

The Super Intelligence Force will be tasked with ensuring the US maintains its primacy in AI development, amid stiff competition from China. Clayton has stated that the risk of not being first is high and that being first will enable the US to address risks on behalf of the American people.