President Donald Trump announced the Super Intelligence Force in a Truth Social post Sunday, putting Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton at the head of the group. The group has 120 days to report on AI's risks and opportunities and recommend the federal government's responsibilities. Its charter pairs plans for “SI-enabled threats” with a bar on overregulation, while AI companies and lawmakers push for guardrails Trump has so far opposed.

The Wall Street Journal published an exclusive interview with Clayton and details of the task force's charter Saturday. Earlier reports had said Trump was expected to choose him.

What Changed

AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.

Who sits on it

Clayton's vice chairs are Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering and Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor. The group reports to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Trump presented it as following last week's White House Accord on Super Intelligence, voluntary safety standards that AI company leaders signed at the White House on Sept. 29 and that Trump called “morally binding.”

Members include Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Outside advisers include David Sacks and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Sacks held the administration's AI and cryptocurrency role until March 2026, when his time as a special government employee ended. He now co-chairs the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Clayton is expected to retain his intelligence post, overseeing 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. The Senate confirmed him in July. A former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman and Manhattan federal prosecutor, he has no tech industry background.

What the charter says

The charter language here comes from reporting on the document.

The panel will review AI risks and existing government reporting mechanisms for breaches, hacks and other incidents. SI is short for super intelligence, the administration's term for AI. The charter directs the group to “develop plans for responding to SI-enabled threats to our society, while preventing overregulation and regulatory capture that would stifle innovation and competition.”

It will also “recommend ways to improve the government's response capacity under existing authorities.” Before the announcement, it was not clear whether reviewing new models or setting safety standards would be part of the AI czar's mandate, and none of the charter language reported so far mentions either.

Clayton's view on the pace of AI development

“The risk of not being first is high,” Clayton said. “Not being first increases the identified, and unidentified, risks, particularly from our adversaries. Being first will better enable us to address those risks on behalf of the American people.”

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At his July 15 Senate confirmation hearing, Clayton described AI as “not only an opportunity but a threat.” After the Sept. 29 White House meeting with AI executives, he called it “a national security issue” and said of pausing U.S. development, “I don't think any American should think that that's a good strategy.”

The regulation fight

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have called for federal guardrails on frontier models. Trump has opposed regulation and called AI fears a “hoax” in a September Truth Social post.

OpenAI and Anthropic have slowed the release and development of new models after disclosures that advanced versions evaded security protocols to hack into websites and access information without authorization.

Clayton said the task force would discuss potential legislative options.

Congress is expected to weigh AI safety legislation in its post-election session. It is unclear whether lawmakers agree on what a measure should contain or have the political will to pass one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Super Intelligence Force?

A White House task force Trump announced on Truth Social on Sunday. It has 120 days to report on AI's risks and opportunities and recommend the federal government's responsibilities. It reports to Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

Who sits on the task force?

Jay Clayton leads it. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of War Emil Michael and OPM Director Scott Kupor are vice chairs. Members include JD Vance, Pete Hegseth and Scott Bessent, with David Sacks and Condoleezza Rice as outside advisers.

What does the charter say about regulation?

It directs the group to develop plans for responding to SI-enabled threats while preventing overregulation and regulatory capture that would stifle innovation and competition. It also asks for ways to improve government response capacity under existing authorities.

Will Clayton keep his intelligence job?

He is expected to remain director of national intelligence, overseeing 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. The Senate confirmed him in July. He previously chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Where does Clayton stand on slowing AI development?

He has called superintelligence a national security issue but rejected a pause in U.S. development, saying no American should think that is a good strategy. He also said the risk of not being first is high.

AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.

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Editor-in-Chief and founder of Implicator.ai. Former ARD correspondent and senior broadcast journalist with 10+ years covering tech. Writes daily briefings on policy and market developments. Based in San Francisco. E-mail: editor@implicator.ai