US President Donald Trump announced that a new task force called “Super Intelligence Force” was created to coordinate the federal government’s work in the field of artificial intelligence. According to Trump’s statement on Truth Social, the management of the structure will include Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton and figures from different levels of the administration. Trump stated that the task force will focus on maintaining the United States’ global position in the field he calls “Super Intelligence.” While the President argued that this technology could have more comprehensive results than the Industrial Revolution and the internet, he said that the studies aimed to protect the interests of Americans and improve their living conditions. The new structure makes the phrase “super intelligence”, which the administration has started using for artificial intelligence in recent months, more visible at the federal policy level.
It took a few months for the Trump administration to reach this point. Although Trump took a distant approach to discussions about artificial intelligence security in September, he said that he would create a special artificial intelligence team and appoint an “AI czar” to head this structure. At that time, the President stated in his unique style that only people with “high IQ” should apply for this position. It is stated that the use of the term “super intelligence” for artificial intelligence was encouraged with a presidential decree signed subsequently. It is reported that the same terminology came to the fore in the meeting held with executives of technology companies at the White House, where a non-binding security commitment was signed.
Super Intelligence Force will examine artificial intelligence risks and opportunities
According to the information provided by The Wall Street Journal, Jay Clayton will assume the chairmanship of the Super Intelligence Force and thus assume a central position in the coordination of the Trump administration’s artificial intelligence policies. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor will serve as vice chairmen. The task force is planned to discuss different artificial intelligence studies of federal institutions within a common framework. In addition, it is stated that the structure will not only follow technological developments but also work on the economic, security and social consequences of artificial intelligence. This staff structure shows that the administration evaluates the issue not only from the perspective of technology policy, but also from the perspective of competition, defense and public administration.
It is reported that the task force will be given 120 days to prepare its first comprehensive study. At the end of this period, it is expected that a report will be prepared addressing the risks and economic and technological opportunities that artificial intelligence may pose. In his previous statements, Clayton argued that it would be irresponsible for the United States to withdraw from artificial intelligence investments while countries such as China continue to advance in this field. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Clayton said that one of the biggest risks with artificial intelligence is not being first in the race. This approach indicates that the board will focus significantly on international technology competition as well as security and regulatory issues.
It appears that a similar balance was attempted in the task force’s working document. The document states that the team will develop plans on how society can be protected against “super intelligence”-supported threats. In addition, preventing excessive regulation and certain companies becoming too influential over regulatory processes, limiting innovation and competition, is also among the goals. Therefore, while the Trump administration wants to prepare at the federal level for the security problems that artificial intelligence may cause, on the other hand, it wants the rules on the sector not to slow down technology development. How this balance will be established can be revealed more clearly with the scope of the report to be prepared at the end of the 120-day study.
The name “Super Intelligence Force” is a concrete reflection of the administration’s recent choice to change the artificial intelligence terminology. Despite this, it is unclear for now whether the name change will replace the concept of “artificial intelligence”, which is widely used in the technology sector and academic circles. More concretely, the new task force aims to increase coordination among federal agencies, prepare for possible threats, and maintain the United States’ competitiveness with other countries, especially China. On the other hand, the extent to which the low regulation approach will be aligned with security objectives will be one of the main issues the board will face. The first report to be prepared will show more clearly what kind of federal policy framework the Trump administration wants to create under the title of “super intelligence”.