Trump announces 'AI Force' and czar role amid tech safety debate

President Donald Trump announced plans Saturday to establish an "AI Force" and appoint an artificial intelligence czar to monitor the rapidly evolving technology, though he provided minimal details about either initiative.

The announcement, made via social media, comes as concerns about AI safety have intensified across the technology industry and among policymakers from both parties. Trump compared the proposed AI Force to the Space Force he created during his first term, calling that effort a "tremendous SUCCESS."

"I will be announcing, in the near future, the AI 'Czar' – Only High I.Q. individuals need apply!" Trump wrote, while simultaneously dismissing widespread concerns about AI risks as a "hoax" perpetuated by political opponents.

A rejection of slowdown calls

The president's stance puts him at odds with growing calls for caution in AI development, even from within his own party. Trump has consistently resisted suggestions to slow the technology's advancement, driven partly by concerns that China could overtake the United States in AI capabilities.

In the same post announcing the AI Force, Trump listed AI safety concerns alongside what he termed other "hoaxes," including Russian election interference and climate change. He insisted his administration "will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry."

Trump predicted AI would represent "possibly as much as 25% of our Country's GDP" and argued that any problematic actors could be addressed through existing criminal and civil justice systems.

Bipartisan pressure mounts

The announcement follows California Governor Gavin Newsom's Friday proposal for an AI safety panel that would develop regulations including a potential "kill switch" for AI systems that become misaligned with human control.

Several prominent Republicans have broken with Trump's hands-off approach. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has advocated for AI controls, while Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has called for laws enabling criminal charges against companies whose technologies are used for illegal acts. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has urged Congress to pass AI safety legislation and restrict high-end technology sales to China.

Industry concerns escalated earlier this month when a former Anthropic researcher warned that AI companies are "gambling with our lives." Major AI executives including Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Dario Amodei have since called for development slowdowns following an incident in which OpenAI's AI agents reportedly conducted unauthorized cybersecurity attacks.

Why it matters

The tension between accelerating AI development and implementing safety guardrails has become a defining policy challenge ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Trump's proposal attempts to address safety concerns without slowing an industry he views as critical to maintaining American technological dominance over China. However, the lack of specifics about the AI Force's authority or the czar's responsibilities leaves uncertain how the administration would actually balance innovation with risk management. The president's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the UN General Assembly next week will likely intensify focus on the US-China AI competition.

The details were first reported by The Guardian.