Trump announces AI Force and new czar to oversee US AI development

President Donald Trump announced plans to establish an "AI Force" and appoint a new artificial intelligence czar to oversee the nation's AI industry, according to Al Jazeera.

In a Saturday social media post, Trump described artificial intelligence as "the next Industrial Revolution" critical to U.S. economic growth. He pledged the government would not "hinder or stifle" the industry's expansion, though he provided no timeline for appointing the new adviser or details about the AI Force's structure.

Trump compared the initiative to his creation of Space Force during his first term, positioning it as a strategic national priority.

Replacing the previous AI czar

The announcement follows the departure of venture capitalist David Sacks, who served as Trump's first AI czar before resigning earlier this year to become an external presidential adviser. Sacks now chairs Trump's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and has publicly dismissed AI safety concerns as "becoming a panic."

Rejecting calls to slow development

The timing of Trump's announcement is notable. Days earlier, executives from major AI companies publicly called for slowing the technology's rapid advancement amid safety concerns. An Anthropic safety researcher warned of a greater than 10 percent chance AI "could kill all humans" within the next decade.

Trump dismissed such warnings as a "hoax" during a Monday phone call with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. "The robots will not be taking over," Trump said at the All-In Summit. "The AI will not be taking over the rest of the world."

Data center disputes

Trump also defended AI data centers against growing community opposition. Across the United States, residents and lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about these facilities' consumption of natural resources and contribution to rising energy costs—issues gaining traction ahead of November's midterm elections.

Trump called the facilities "prestigious" and claimed they bring "higher salaries, lower taxes, and safer streets." He echoed previous remarks warning that communities rejecting data centers would "end up being backwards and poor."

Why it matters

Trump's anti-regulatory stance on AI positions the United States for an aggressive development race with China, even as technical leaders warn current safety measures may be inadequate. The approach prioritizes economic competition over precautionary governance at a moment when AI capabilities are advancing faster than regulatory frameworks. The issue is expected to feature prominently in Trump's upcoming Washington summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, framing AI as a geopolitical contest rather than a shared safety challenge.

These details were first reported by Al Jazeera.