Trump Taps Jay Clayton as White House AI Czar Amid Tech Industry Concerns

President Donald Trump is reportedly set to name Jay Clayton as the White House's new AI czar, according to CNN and other US media. This appointment would come after reports that Clayton was the likely pick for the role, with some sources suggesting he could remain in his position as director of national intelligence.

CBS News reported earlier that Clayton had been discussed as a potential candidate for the AI czar position, but a White House official dismissed these reports as speculation. If confirmed, Clayton would become the second person to hold the informal title, following venture capitalist David Sacks who stepped down at the start of Trump's second term.

Clayton has no background in the tech industry, having previously served as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump's first term. He took a pro-business stance while leading the SEC, but brought enforcement cases against the nascent crypto industry. Crypto entrepreneurs have since become major Trump backers.