Trump Launches Super Intelligence Force to Shape US AI Policy
Trump launches a Super Intelligence Force led by Jay Clayton, with 120 days to assess AI risks, opportunities and threats while guarding US innovation.
Summary
President Donald Trump announced the Super Intelligence Force on Truth Social on Sunday, October 4, 2026, tasking it with coordinating federal policy to preserve US leadership in what his administration now calls “super intelligence.” Trump said the technology could surpass the Industrial Revolution and internet in significance, protect US interests and improve Americans’ lives. National intelligence director Jay Clayton will chair the group, effectively serving as AI and SI czar. Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor will serve as vice chairs.
The force has 120 days to report on AI risks and opportunities. Its reported charter calls for plans addressing SI-enabled societal threats while preventing overregulation and regulatory capture that could suppress innovation and competition. Clayton has argued that retreating while China advances would be irresponsible and called “not being first” one of the biggest risks. Trump promised an AI Force in September despite dismissing the AI safety debate as a “Radical Left” hoax, then signed an executive order rebranding AI as super intelligence. Tech executives adopted the terminology at a White House gathering this week, where they signed a nonbinding safety pledge containing a typo.
Positives
- The Super Intelligence Force has 120 days to produce a federal assessment of AI risks and opportunities.
- Jay Clayton will coordinate AI policy with senior officials from the FTC, defense research leadership and the Office of Personnel Management.
- The charter pairs responses to SI-enabled threats with protections for innovation and competition.
- US leadership against China’s AI advances is an explicit priority for Clayton and the administration.
Risks & concerns
- Trump dismissed the AI safety debate as a “Radical Left” hoax before creating the task force.
- The White House safety pledge signed by tech executives is nonbinding and contained a typo.
- Clayton’s emphasis on being first could intensify tension between rapid development and safety oversight.
- SI-enabled societal threats, overregulation and regulatory capture are all identified as risks requiring federal plans.