WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a new task force focused on artificial intelligence policy, naming it the “Super Intelligence Force” as part of efforts to maintain US leadership in advanced technology.
Trump said the task force would coordinate the federal government’s engagement with the public, interest groups, infrastructure providers and companies developing advanced AI systems.
AI task force
The new force will be headed by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton and will report directly to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson, Undersecretary of Defence for Research, Engineering Emil Michael and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor will also serve on the task force.
Clayton, who became national intelligence director in August, has previously said that technologies presenting both opportunities and threats require close oversight.
Super Intelligence
The announcement follows Trump’s executive order on September 29 instructing US government departments and agencies to replace the term “artificial intelligence” with “Super Intelligence” or “SI” in official communications.
Trump previously said the word “artificial” made the technology sound “fake”.
The president also said last week that he would establish a board to oversee AI safety after executives from leading technology companies signed what he described as a “morally binding” agreement on responsible AI development.
AI regulation
The move comes amid growing calls from technology leaders, including executives from OpenAI and Anthropic, for stronger safeguards around AI development.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman recently argued that society should accept some risks associated with AI because of the wider benefits and public access the technology can provide.
Trump has largely supported industry-led oversight rather than stricter government regulation. The AI safety pact signed by major technology firms included commitments to improve safeguards and monitor the impact of advanced AI systems.
Some experts have questioned the decision to rebrand AI as “Super Intelligence”, arguing that the term traditionally refers to more advanced systems and could create confusion.
