WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the formation of a new Super Intelligence Force (SIF) to coordinate the federal government’s engagement with the artificial intelligence industry and other groups, as his administration seeks to maintain US leadership in advanced AI.
Trump announced the initiative on Sunday, naming Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead the force.
The announcement followed a White House meeting with executives from major technology companies, where the companies agreed to voluntary principles concerning AI safety and oversight.
Trump said the new force would coordinate federal engagement with consumers, public-interest groups, religious organisations, critical infrastructure providers and AI companies.
“I am announcing the formation of the Super Intelligence Force (SIF),” Trump said. He said the body would coordinate the federal government’s efforts to ensure that the United States “continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence.”
Trump has directed his administration to use the term “super intelligence” rather than artificial intelligence in describing the technology.
The force will be led by Clayton, who was appointed director of national intelligence in August and oversees the U.S. intelligence community.
Other officials named to the group include Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Pentagon Under Secretary for Research and Engineering and Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor.
The officials will report to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
120-day review
Clayton told The Wall Street Journal that the force has 120 days to assess the risks and opportunities associated with AI and recommend what role the federal government should play.
The review will examine issues including AI-related threats, government oversight and the federal response to incidents involving the technology.
“The risk of not being first is high,” Clayton told the Journal, arguing that maintaining US leadership would help the country address risks associated with the technology and competition from other countries.
The new force does not itself create a new federal law or regulatory agency. Its initial role is to coordinate existing government capabilities and make recommendations on oversight under existing authorities.
The administration’s approach comes as the US debates how far government regulation should extend over rapidly developing AI systems.
Trump has generally advocated a lighter regulatory approach intended to avoid slowing technological development, while technology executives, lawmakers and other groups have raised concerns over issues including national security, cyberattacks, job displacement and the safety of increasingly capable AI systems.
The formation of the SIF follows what Trump described as a “Historic White House Accord on Super Intelligence,” involving major technology companies.
Companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta and Nvidia participated in the White House discussions and agreed to voluntary safety measures, including internal controls and external reviews of AI systems.
The 120-day review will now determine how the administration proposes to use existing federal authorities to address the opportunities and risks presented by advanced AI.
For now, the creation of the SIF marks a new coordination mechanism within the Trump administration rather than the creation of a new AI regulator.