Trump names Jay Clayton AI czar to lead new Super Intelligence Force
The White House task force has 120 days to map AI risks and opportunities and define Washington's role in keeping the US ahead
President Donald Trump has appointed Jay Clayton as the White House’s AI czar. Clayton will lead a newly formed task force called the “Super Intelligence Force.”
The appointment came on October 3, 2026. The panel is expected to deliver a report within 120 days.
That report will assess the risks and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence. It is also meant to define what role Washington should play in keeping the US at the front of the AI race.
Clayton will not be working alone. The panel includes several high-profile officials, among them Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Clayton has stressed that the US must hold its lead in super intelligence technologies.
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On September 29, 2026, Trump hosted a meeting with leaders from the AI industry. At that gathering, Trump backed the creation of a voluntary “White House Accord on Super Intelligence.” The accord is aimed at getting companies to adopt internal safeguards and oversight on their own.
That meeting led directly to the formation of the task force. Less than a week later, Clayton had the czar title.
Clayton was confirmed as Director of National Intelligence on July 28, 2026, by a Senate vote of 51-47.
One of the more consequential details concerns what the task force will not do. It plans to strengthen existing incident-reporting mechanisms rather than impose new regulations.