US President Donald Trump has announced plans to create an “AI Force” and appoint a new artificial intelligence adviser, whom he described as an “AI czar.”
Trump made the announcement in a social media post on Saturday. He did not provide details about the structure, membership or legal authority of the proposed AI Force. Reuters reported that the scope and implementation of the plan remain unclear.
Trump Promises Not to Slow AI Industry
Trump said his administration would not seek to hinder the growth of the artificial intelligence industry.
He said the government would support the sector while using existing criminal and civil justice systems to address harmful or illegal activity.
Trump also rejected calls for broader restrictions on AI development.
The announcement comes as policymakers, technology executives and researchers debate how quickly advanced AI systems should be developed and how they should be regulated.
What Will the ‘AI Force’ Do?
The exact role of the proposed AI Force has not yet been explained.
Trump compared the initiative to the Space Force, but it remains unclear whether the proposed body would be military, civilian or a new interagency structure. The White House had not immediately provided additional details.
Trump also said he would appoint an AI czar to oversee the administration’s artificial intelligence efforts.
Reuters reported that this would be his second AI czar appointment after venture capitalist David Sacks moved into an external advisory role earlier this year.
AI Safety Debate Intensifies
Trump’s announcement comes amid growing debate over the risks of increasingly powerful AI models.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently called for companies to slow the pace of AI development. He argued that progress remains rapid but said additional time is needed to address potential risks.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk have also expressed support for greater caution around advanced AI development, according to the report.
At the same time, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and other technology leaders have argued for continued rapid development while maintaining appropriate safety measures.
The disagreement has created a broader debate between those prioritising faster AI development and those calling for stronger safeguards.
US Seeks AI Leadership
Trump has repeatedly made artificial intelligence a major part of his technology and economic agenda.
The White House has previously issued measures aimed at accelerating AI innovation, expanding AI infrastructure and strengthening the technology’s use in national security.
The administration has also described maintaining US leadership in artificial intelligence as a major national priority.
Trump said AI could have a major impact on the US economy and argued that Washington must maintain its lead over China.
AI Becomes Part of US-China Competition
The announcement also comes ahead of planned talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Washington and Beijing view artificial intelligence as strategically important for both economic and national security competition.
Their disagreements include access to advanced computer chips, technology transfer, AI regulation and the development of advanced AI systems.
US officials are expected to discuss AI-related issues with their Chinese counterparts during upcoming meetings.
The proposed AI Force could therefore become part of a wider US effort to coordinate AI policy, technology development and national security.
For now, key details remain unresolved, including the proposed force’s authority, structure, funding and relationship with existing federal agencies.
