The U.S. President, Donald Trump, has announced the creation of a new artificial intelligence adviser or “AI czar” and an “AI force” dedicated to the fast-expanding tech. The announcement, issued Sept. 19, offered little detail on the proposed structure or responsibilities or timelines of either initiative. The shift follows a burgeoning debate on how to reconcile the potential for quick AI advancement with the dangers related to safety and security and misuse within the United States.
Trump announced on Truth Social that the administration would create the new AI force, and a person to oversee it. The president, however, didn’t spell out who would be tasked with the adviser role, or how the proposed force would fit into the existing government agency or whether it would be a new White House effort. There are also questions about its authority, funding and relation with existing federal agencies engaged in artificial intelligence policy.
The announcement does not yet constitute an operational program, in the absence of operational details. It will ultimately rely on who is picked as the AI adviser, what responsibilities are given to the force, and its practical implementation. Those factors may shape the focus of the initiative, whether it’s piecing out the technological development, aligning government AI initiatives, or reviving security concerns or fighting the misuse of AI.
Trump has said on many occasions that the U.S. should refrain from regulations that could slow the growth of the AI industry. In his latest declaration, he reiterated his positive stance on technological development and reiterated that the government has existing criminal and civil legislation with which to address harmful activity.
Trump said he will not “in any way impede or disable the Growth of this incredible Industry. Instead, we will embrace it, nurture it and be responsible for it, as it grows! BUT we will also be looking for BAD and we can do that, very easily, with our already existing Criminal and Civil Justice System.
The comments represent Trump’s general stance on AI policy, characterized by an increased focus on technological competitiveness and the need to minimize regulatory hurdles. His government also announced earlier this year a set of initiatives designed to foster innovation and security in AI, such as to speed up the adoption of AI and fortify cybersecurity abilities. In addition, a June executive order called on federal agencies to take action against criminal use of AI while also promoting the development of “highly capable” AI systems.
However, researchers, tech CEOs and policymakers have raised more questions regarding risks of increasingly powerful AI systems at the same time. There are fears that the sophisticated capabilities of AI might present significant risks to security and society if they evolve at a rate quicker than measures put in place to manage them.
In a recent warning, one of the former workers at Anthropic, Jacob Coxon, has referred to some who are working on AI as thinking that it could be a “very serious threat to humans” in the next few years. Those alerts have fueled a debate that has raged for a while now between the industry and the government about the need for further regulatory measures, or a new path of liberalism, to take effect.
The debate isn’t just what to do about developing AI. It has become a growing issue of responsibility between the technology companies, the government regulators and the users. Those who favor a more lenient regime say that over-regulation could stall innovation, limit investment and hinder the United States from becoming a global leader. Those who desire more regulation cite risks stemming from cybersecurity, misinformation, autonomous systems, privacy and more uses of increasingly potent AI models.
Trump’s proposed AI force might be another way to handle that debate, but it’s uncertain what it’ll be used for in the long run. The administration has already put in motion a number of AI-related initiatives, so the new entity might be a consolidation of the existing programs or another layer in the federal government’s growing technology policy bureaucracy.
It would also bring back an AI czar as Trump’s appointee would replace David Sacks, the venture capitalist who served in the same role earlier in the Obama era. Sacks left the role earlier this year, taking a strictly advisory appointment. He has reiterated ideas that are generally in line with Trump’s position on restricting new federal regulations for AI.
Earlier this month, Sacks said at a Politico event that developers should be accountable for the safety of their technology, and could be liable for a lawsuit if their systems cause damage. He also noted that more federal regulations were not needed.
The change in personnel therefore may not necessarily indicate a major change in the administration’s overall AI philosophy. Much hinges on whether the next adviser will have more authority than Sacks, and whether the new power of the AI will be vested with a formal position in policy or as a coordinator of the government’s programs.
The announcement is also occurring at a pivotal time for U.S. technology policy as AI has emerged as a significant link to national security and international competition. The United States and China are both battling for the top spot in the AI competition, and are also working on matters of technology, trade, and security. The U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng recently discussed AI security in their talks, and Washington has been exploring ways to share information on major AI-related incidents with China.
