President Donald Trump has appointed Jay Clayton, the current Director of National Intelligence and former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, to lead a new White House body called the Super Intelligence Force. The task force has 120 days to evaluate artificial intelligence risks, security threats, privacy concerns and whether new federal laws are needed to manage advanced AI systems.
Clayton will keep his intelligence role while taking on the additional AI policy mandate. The group will report to Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and includes Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, and Emil Michael, the Pentagon's chief technology officer and undersecretary for research and engineering.
The appointment places a former financial regulator at the center of AI policy, an area increasingly tied to cybersecurity, market competition, infrastructure and national security. Clayton chaired the SEC from May 2017 to December 2020, later served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and was sworn in as director of national intelligence in August. His SEC tenure included the Ripple case, giving his new role a notable crypto angle.
The Super Intelligence Force is expected to examine both opportunities and risks from advanced AI, including existing laws, possible congressional action, and the government's ability to respond to AI-related incidents such as cyberattacks and model breaches. The new structure also separates White House AI coordination more clearly from crypto policy. Venture capitalist David Sacks previously combined AI and cryptocurrency responsibilities before leaving his formal White House role in March.
The CFTC's Innovation Advisory Committee has already placed AI alongside digital assets and prediction markets among technologies requiring closer regulatory engagement. Investors are likely to watch whether the 120-day review leads to voluntary industry controls, new reporting obligations or formal legislation. The immediate announcement does not create new financial-market rules, but the task force's recommendations could affect compliance costs for technology, financial services and infrastructure companies.
