WASHINGTON, United States — US President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a new federal task force to coordinate the government’s approach to artificial intelligence, which he has chosen to call “super intelligence.”
The Super Intelligence Force (SIF) will be led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton and is tasked with helping ensure the United States maintains global leadership in the rapidly developing technology.
Trump said the task force would coordinate federal engagement with consumers, public-interest groups, religious organisations, critical infrastructure providers and technology companies.
It will report directly to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Clayton To Lead New Task Force
Clayton will chair the task force alongside other senior officials, including Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor.
The task force is expected to examine both the opportunities and risks associated with increasingly capable AI systems. Reports indicate it has been given 120 days to produce recommendations on the technology and the federal government’s role in addressing its risks.
Clayton has argued that maintaining US leadership in AI is important because falling behind countries such as China could increase risks to American national security.
Trump Pushes ‘Super Intelligence’ Rebranding
The announcement follows Trump’s decision to promote “super intelligence” as the preferred term for artificial intelligence.
The president has argued that AI could have an impact greater than previous technological revolutions and has directed federal agencies to use the new terminology in official communications.
The move has attracted debate among technology experts, with some questioning whether replacing the established term “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence” could create confusion, particularly because superintelligence generally refers to hypothetical systems that surpass human capabilities.
AI Safety Debate Intensifies
The new task force comes as debate over AI safety and regulation intensifies in Washington and Silicon Valley.
Trump recently hosted executives from leading AI companies at the White House, where technology companies signed a voluntary accord outlining commitments around the development and oversight of increasingly capable systems.
The administration has generally favoured allowing the industry greater room to develop the technology, while arguing that excessive regulation could undermine US competitiveness.
At the same time, technology leaders and AI researchers have raised concerns about the potential risks posed by increasingly autonomous systems.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has argued that society should accept some risks from AI because of the potential benefits, while former OpenAI safety leader David Robinson recently left the company and criticised its approach to safety.
The creation of the Super Intelligence Force therefore places the Trump administration at the centre of an increasingly important debate over how the US should balance technological leadership, economic opportunities and AI safety.
