Why Trump chose these leaders to head his ‘Super Intelligence Force’

President Trump’s selection of four administration officials to head up his new “Super Intelligence Force” is offering a window into how the White House will approach AI in the face of pressure over its risks.

The group of government leaders each reflect different priorities of the Trump administration after months of mixed messaging on the White House’s AI policy.

Now referring to artificial intelligence as “super intelligence,” the president announced last weekend he tapped Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead the Super Intelligence Force (SIF), which aims to explore the benefits and risks of the technology, and “ensure” America’s lead in the development race.

Clayton will be joined by Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s chief technology officer; Andrew Ferguson, chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); and Scott Kupor, the director of the Office of Personnel Management, to serve as vice chairs.

Here’s what to know about the SIF officials:

Clayton, who became director of national intelligence in August after serving as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, has long been praised by Trump, who once described the Cabinet member as a “strong fighter for the truth.”

As national intelligence director, Clayton oversees the U.S.’s 18-agency intelligence community, which is increasingly playing a role in the testing and evaluations of AI systems.

While Clayton has not worked directly in tech, his ties to both the legal world and Wall Street are likely to play a role. Trump previously tapped Clayton, a longtime lawyer, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in his first term.

The president said Sunday the group “will coordinate the Federal Government’s engagement with Consumers, Public Interest Groups, Religious Organizations, Critical Infrastructure Providers, and Super Intelligence Companies.”

The White House said the group will have 120 days to report on AI’s risks and benefits, and the role of government in managing it.

After attending the White House’s meeting last week with more than two dozen tech industry executives and administration officials, Clayton doubled down on Trump’s commitment........

© The Hill