Key Points
- President Donald Trump is expected to appoint Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as the White House’s AI czar, according to multiple reports, although the White House had not formally announced the appointment at the time of reporting.
- Clayton is expected to retain his intelligence role while taking on additional responsibilities related to AI policy and the administration’s planned AI initiative.
- The potential appointment comes as the White House pursues voluntary AI safeguards and a broader national strategy for artificial intelligence development.
President Donald Trump is expected to name US Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as the administration’s next artificial intelligence czar, according to reports citing people familiar with the discussions. The White House has not formally confirmed the appointment and has said personnel announcements would come directly from the president.
The reported move would place a senior national security official at the center of the administration’s AI policy efforts as Washington balances the expansion of artificial intelligence with concerns over safety, security and oversight.
Clayton Could Hold Two Roles
Clayton has served as director of national intelligence since Aug. 3, 2026, after previously leading the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term and serving as US attorney for the Southern District of New York. The White House currently identifies him as the head of the US intelligence community and the president’s principal intelligence adviser.
Reports indicate Clayton could retain his position as director of national intelligence while also becoming the administration’s AI czar. CNN reported that the arrangement would give Clayton responsibility for both portfolios.
The potential appointment has not yet been formally announced by the White House, leaving the final structure and scope of the role subject to confirmation.
White House Expands AI Initiative
The reported appointment follows Trump’s recent push to establish a broader federal initiative around artificial intelligence.
Trump announced plans for an “AI Force” in September and said the administration would seek to encourage AI development without imposing regulations that could slow innovation.
On Sept. 29, the White House also issued an executive order focused on what it calls “Super Intelligence.” The order directs the administration to develop a federal definition of superintelligence and consider changes to existing statutory references to artificial intelligence.
The developments indicate that AI policy is increasingly being approached as both a technology and national-security issue.
AI Safety Debate Continues
The potential Clayton appointment comes amid an ongoing debate over how quickly AI development should proceed and what safeguards should accompany increasingly capable systems.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for measures intended to manage the pace of AI development, warning about risks associated with increasingly powerful systems. Anthropic has subsequently partnered with Accenture on AI model evaluation and safety work.
At the same time, the Trump administration has emphasized voluntary safeguards rather than a broad new regulatory framework. On Sept. 29, Trump and major technology executives announced a voluntary AI agreement covering safety practices and company-level controls.
Clayton has also addressed AI during his government service, describing the technology as both an opportunity and a threat during his confirmation process.
National Security Could Shape AI Policy
Clayton’s current position could give the administration’s AI strategy a stronger national-security dimension.
The director of national intelligence oversees the US intelligence community, which includes 18 agencies. His potential dual role would therefore connect AI policy with issues including technological competition, intelligence capabilities and security risks.
Reports also indicate that Clayton has argued existing consumer protection, product liability and Justice Department authorities provide mechanisms for addressing risks associated with AI, rather than necessarily requiring an entirely new regulatory structure.
David Sacks Previously Held AI Role
The potential appointment would also fill a role previously associated with venture capitalist David Sacks.
Sacks served as Trump’s special adviser for crypto and AI before reaching the 130-day limit applicable to special government employees. He has continued advising the administration on technology policy after leaving the formal position.
The new AI czar role would therefore represent another phase in the administration’s evolving structure for coordinating federal AI policy.
Outlook
Clayton’s reported appointment would place AI policy alongside his existing national-security responsibilities, potentially giving the administration a framework that connects artificial intelligence development with national security and technological competition.
The appointment remained unconfirmed by the White House at the time of the reports, while the precise responsibilities of the AI czar and relationship with the planned AI Force were still developing. The administration’s recent executive actions and voluntary agreement with technology companies nevertheless indicate that AI policy is becoming a more prominent component of its broader technology strategy.
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