US President Donald Trump has announced plans to establish an “AI Force” and appoint a new artificial intelligence czar as his administration seeks to support the rapid expansion of the technology industry.
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social but provided few details about the proposed organisation, including when it would be created, how it would operate or which government agencies would be involved.
The announcement comes as policymakers and technology executives debate the pace of artificial intelligence development and the risks associated with increasingly capable AI systems. The debate has intensified following several incidents involving AI agents that reportedly operated outside their intended controlled environments.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called on policymakers last week to help the industry “pace the frontier” of AI development. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SpaceX and xAI chief Elon Musk have also backed discussions about managing the speed of technological progress.
Other industry leaders have taken a different position. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang rejected warnings about the potential consequences of rapid AI development, describing them as “doomsday narratives”. In an interview with CBS News on Sunday, Huang said he saw no reason to believe 2030 would mark the end of the world.
Trump has consistently opposed proposals that would slow the development of AI, arguing that restrictions could allow China to close the gap with US technology companies.
His latest announcement also comes before a planned visit to China for discussions on artificial intelligence. The talks are expected to focus on maintaining communication between the United States and China, the world’s two leading AI powers.
Trump has described the AI industry as facing unnecessary criticism and has defended the construction of large data centres. He has argued that such facilities can bring economic benefits and prestige to the communities where they are built.
The president has also said his administration will not hinder the growth of the AI industry. He has compared the technology with major economic transformations such as the Industrial Revolution and the internet, suggesting that AI could eventually account for as much as 25% of US gross domestic product.
Trump’s proposed AI czar would not be the first such position created during his administration. Venture capitalist and podcast host David Sacks previously served in an AI policy role after Trump returned to office and stepped down in March.
Other officials associated with AI policy positions have had shorter tenures. Collin Burns, who led the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, left the administration after four days, while Chris Fall served for about four months before resigning.
Trump’s latest proposal would establish another senior figure responsible for overseeing AI policy and development. In announcing the position, he indicated that candidates would be expected to have exceptionally strong technical and intellectual credentials.
