Trump Announces 'AI Force' and Plans to Name AI Czar

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will establish an "AI Force" and appoint an artificial intelligence czar to lead the initiative, positioning the effort as a way to protect American leadership in AI technology.

Trump made the announcement via Truth Social, drawing a parallel to his creation of the Space Force during his first term. He said he would name the AI czar "in the near future" and specified that "only high I.Q. individuals need apply."

Why it matters

The announcement arrives at a pivotal moment for AI policy. While Trump frames the initiative as protecting industry growth, major AI companies and researchers are calling for development slowdowns amid safety concerns. The tension between accelerating U.S. competitiveness and managing existential risks will likely define the AI Force's approach—if details ever materialize.

Economic ambitions and competitive positioning

In his post, Trump characterized artificial intelligence as comparable to "the next Industrial Revolution, or Internet" and projected it could eventually represent up to 25% of the U.S. economy. He emphasized that the United States currently leads China and other nations in AI development and stated his intention to maintain that advantage.

The president said his administration would encourage AI development using existing criminal and civil laws to address abuses, rather than imposing new restrictions. "We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry," Trump wrote. "Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!"

Industry calls for caution

The announcement comes as prominent voices in AI research have raised alarm about development speed. Jacob Coxon, a former researcher at both Anthropic and OpenAI, recently resigned from Anthropic with a public warning that the industry was "racing straight to self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives."

Following Coxon's departure, leading AI executives have echoed concerns about pace. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has urged companies to "pace the frontier," arguing that AI capabilities are advancing faster than safeguards can keep up. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SpaceXAI CEO Elon Musk have both endorsed slowing development.

Legislative proposals

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are advancing AI legislation. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar introduced a sweeping measure earlier this month that would permanently ban artificial superintelligence development and temporarily pause advanced AI work until federal safety rules are established.

Unanswered questions

Trump's announcement provided no details about the AI Force's structure, authorities, or the specific responsibilities of the planned czar position. The president has previously dismissed warnings about AI risks as a "HOAX" and characterized efforts to impose additional guardrails as part of a "SICK conspiracy."

The Denver Gazette first reported these details.