White House AI task force to curb excessive regulation

A new artificial intelligence task force formed by the White House will take initiative to stop excessive regulation that hinders innovation, according to The Wall Street Journal, which quoted the task force's head, Jay Clayton.

The Journal reported that the task force, named the Super Intelligence Force, has been given 120 days to submit a report on the risks and opportunities of AI. President Donald Trump often refers to artificial intelligence as 'super intelligence'.

Clayton said that if the United States falls behind, the risks from rival nations will grow, and that only by remaining at the forefront can those risks be effectively addressed. The task force's mandate covers planning to deal with risks that could emerge in society and preventing regulatory capture. It will also recommend strengthening the government's capacity to respond within existing legal authority.

Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are members of the task force.

There has been discussion of making Clayton the chief AI official, or 'AI czar', but the appointment has not been formally confirmed. Earlier, venture capitalist David Sacks held this role at the start of Trump's second term.

Clayton, a Wall Street lawyer, was selected by Trump to lead the federal prosecutors in Manhattan, and the Senate approved his appointment in July. However, he has no direct experience in the technology industry.