Trump Forms Super Intelligence Force to Lead U.S. AI Efforts

President Donald Trump announced the formation of a new Super Intelligence Force on October 4, 2026, tasking it with coordinating federal government efforts to keep the United States at the forefront of artificial intelligence development.

National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton will chair the task force, according to The Wall Street Journal. 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. Clayton’s role effectively makes him the administration’s AI czar — a position Trump first floated in September.

Trump announced the task force in a post on his social network Truth Social. “The Super Intelligence Force is tasked with coordinating the effort of the Federal Government to ensure that America continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence, which many say is bigger than the Industrial Revolution, and the Internet, and will protect the interests, and improve the lives, of all Americans,” he wrote.

The task force’s formation follows an executive order Trump signed to rebrand AI as “super intelligence,” a term that was also adopted — with some stumbles — by tech executives who gathered at the White House to sign a non-binding safety pledge. The group has 120 days to produce a report on the risks and opportunities presented by AI.

The task force’s charter states it will “develop plans for responding to SI-enabled threats to our society, while preventing overregulation and regulatory capture that would stifle innovation and competition.” Clayton has previously argued that one of the biggest risks facing the U.S. is “not being first,” citing advances by countries like China.

The announcement is Trump’s latest response to the ongoing debate over AI safety — a debate the president has largely dismissed as a hoax, though he indicated in September he would still establish a dedicated AI body.