Trump announces 'AI Force' and czar amid rising tech concerns

President Trump announced plans Saturday to establish an "AI Force" and appoint a new artificial intelligence czar, responding to mounting pressure for government oversight of AI technology while simultaneously dismissing broader concerns about the risks as a "hoax."

The president compared the planned body to the U.S. Space Force created during his first term but provided limited details about its structure or mandate. The announcement, made via Truth Social, emphasized that the administration would "not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry" while promising to watch for "BAD" actors using existing criminal and civil justice systems.

This would mark the second AI czar in the administration. Venture capitalist David Sacks previously held the role before stepping down in March, according to The Hill.

Bipartisan concern meets presidential skepticism

The initiative arrives against a backdrop of rare cross-party agreement on AI risks. A Politico poll released last week showed nearly two-thirds of Americans believe AI poses at least a "moderate" risk to humanity, including majorities of both Trump and Harris voters from the 2024 election. A July survey found Americans were nearly three times as likely to be concerned as excited about AI's potential effects.

Yet Trump has grouped AI concerns with what he calls Democratic "hoaxes" including his impeachments and climate change. He told followers last week that "guardrails" could be implemented but dismissed warnings from "negative forces" about scenarios that "won't happen."

Several current and former AI researchers warned earlier this month that uncontrolled AI could threaten human extinction within the next decade or sooner, details first reported by The Hill.

International cooperation takes shape

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent laid groundwork for U.S.-China AI cooperation during talks with Chinese counterparts in New York on Sunday, NBC News reported. Bessent indicated that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would discuss establishing a mechanism to alert each other about potential national security issues related to AI.

Xi's state visit to the U.S. this week, with a Wednesday meeting with Trump expected, will feature AI as a central topic. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) called for "international agreement" with China on AI standards during a CBS News appearance Sunday, comparing the need to arms control verification frameworks.

Trump has consistently emphasized that the U.S. cannot afford to lose an AI race with China, even as he resists domestic regulation that leaders of major AI companies have requested.

Why it matters

The tension between Trump's AI Force announcement and his resistance to meaningful regulation highlights a fundamental challenge for policymakers: how to maintain competitive advantage in AI development while addressing legitimate safety concerns that transcend partisan lines. With no clear regulatory framework and an administration skeptical of oversight, the two-year gap former President Obama referenced in a Friday interview at Colgate University may leave critical decisions to industry self-governance at a moment when the technology's capabilities are accelerating rapidly.

Congressional Democrats push back

Khanna expressed doubt about the AI Force's effectiveness, questioning whether Trump envisions offensive AI capabilities. He advocated for an agency similar to the Food and Drug Administration to regulate AI.

Obama criticized Trump's approach more directly, noting the president's characterization of AI regulations as being for "losers" and arguing the administration is neither capable of nor willing to create a serious regulatory framework.

Details of the AI Force structure, budget, and timeline remain unclear. Trump also polled his Truth Social followers Saturday about renaming artificial intelligence entirely, suggesting alternatives including "Superior Intelligence" and "Supreme Intelligence."

These details were first reported by The Hill's Morning Report newsletter.