Trump names Jay Clayton as AI czar

The Trump administration has named Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead a new White House effort on artificial intelligence, according to a report published Oct. 4, 2026. The move comes as the government faces growing questions about how to oversee fastmoving AI systems and their risks. Clayton will head a task force called the “Super Intelligence Force,” which has 120 days to study AI’s risks and opportunities and recommend what role the federal government should play. The group will include officials from the FTC, the Defense Department and the Office of Personnel Management, and it will report to Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. The announcement follows recent calls from some AI industry leaders for stronger safeguards and a slower pace of development after a series of highprofile security concerns. Trump has said the administration wants to support the industry while also monitoring it more closely.