President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that Jay Clayton, the current Director of National Intelligence, would be a good choice to serve as the United States' AI czar. The president is actively seeking to fill this position as demands for greater government involvement in artificial intelligence grow.
Clayton currently leads the 18-agency intelligence community and serves as the president's principal intelligence adviser. During his confirmation hearing in July, Clayton discussed the dual nature of artificial intelligence technology. He noted that, similar to the approach of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the intelligence community views AI as both an opportunity and a threat. Clayton remarked that when a technology presents both risks and benefits, it is necessary to take full control of the situation.
When asked by reporters who he intended to select for the role, Trump said he had someone in mind. He described Clayton as a good man who is already present in the administration, calling the idea good. The specific responsibilities of the AI czar have not yet been defined, though Trump previously mentioned his intention to establish a new government agency known as the AI Force. The president told reporters outside the White House that he hopes to make a selection within the next three or four days.
This announcement follows a meeting held on Tuesday between Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and various AI executives. The group discussed balancing innovation with safety and encouraged companies to regulate themselves and one another. David Sacks, a venture capitalist and Silicon Valley figure who also attended the meeting, previously held the AI czar role. Sacks departed from that position in March after his status as a special government employee expired, though he continued to exert influence through an outside advisory capacity.