Intelligence officials report talks with 20 to 25 AI companies under Jay Claytonās SIF
The Director of National Intelligence is courting the AI industry as the newly formed Super Intelligence Force works toward a 120-day report on risks and opportunities
The US intelligence community has a new set of contacts: somewhere between 20 and 25 AI companies.
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton has confirmed that US intelligence and AI officials are in active dialogue with that group of firms. The talks come as Washington tries to decide how it governs a technology it now openly treats as a national security matter.
Who is talking, and why now
President Donald Trump appointed Clayton to lead a newly created body called the Super Intelligence Force, or SIF, around October 3-4, 2026.
The SIF’s job is to coordinate federal AI policy and engage with the people building the technology, including the major AI companies. The administration prefers the term “super intelligence” for what most people simply call AI.
The task force also has a deadline. It is required to produce a report on AI risks and opportunities within 120 days of its formation.
The SIF’s roster includes FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson alongside military representatives.
The accord that came first
A White House meeting held on September 29-30 brought together leaders from prominent AI firms, including OpenAI, Google, and Nvidia.
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At that meeting, executives committed to a voluntary agreement called the “White House Accord on Super Intelligence.” The accord emphasizes internal controls and external audits as key accountability measures for AI development.
Clayton’s position on the pause button
Clayton has publicly labeled super intelligence a national security issue and has opposed any moratorium on AI development.
His argument is about speed. Clayton has stressed that the US needs to lead in this fast-moving field without delays, warning that hesitation risks leaving the country behind globally.
The overall strategy leans toward encouraging industry self-regulation rather than heavy-handed government rules. The goal is to keep the US positioned as a front-runner in the global AI race.
Clayton took on the DNI post in August 2026, after previously chairing the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term.
What this means for the AI industry and investors
The 120-day report is the obvious thing to watch. Whatever the SIF concludes about AI risks and opportunities will likely shape whether the light-touch approach survives or gets firmer edges.
With the FTC chairman involved, competition and consumer protection questions are clearly in scope.
Companies that are part of the 20 to 25 company dialogue get a say in how the framework develops. Those outside it may end up following rules they had no hand in drafting.
AI is no longer being handled mainly as a tech policy issue. It is being run through the intelligence chief’s office, with a dedicated force, a deadline, and a national security framing.