US President Donald Trump has announced plans to establish an “AI Force” and appoint a new artificial intelligence czar as Washington intensifies efforts to maintain American leadership in the rapidly developing technology.
Trump made the announcement on Saturday, September 19, in a Truth Social post, but provided no details on the structure, funding, powers or timeline of the proposed force. He likened it to the US Space Force, which was established during his first term.
The president said his administration would “not in any way hinder or stifle” the growth of the AI industry, arguing that artificial intelligence could become as economically transformative as the Industrial Revolution or the internet. He estimated that its impact could eventually amount to as much as 25 per cent of US GDP.
Trump also stressed the strategic importance of keeping the United States ahead of China in AI development. He said his administration would rely on existing criminal and civil justice systems to deal with harmful or unlawful uses of the technology rather than impose additional restrictions.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns from technology executives and AI researchers over the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems. Trump has rejected calls for a slowdown in development and has described fears about AI becoming uncontrollable or threatening humanity as a “hoax.”
The planned czar would be the second person to hold the White House’s AI czar role. Venture capitalist David Sacks, who previously held the position, left the formal role earlier this year but remains involved as an external adviser.
