Trump Appoints Intelligence Chief Jay Clayton as AI Czar

NBC News

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton.

US President Donald Trump has appointed Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as the administration's AI czar, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing an interview with Clayton.

Clayton, who was appointed intelligence chief in August, ‌will lead a new White House panel tasked with reporting within 120 days on the risks and opportunities posed by AI, the newspaper said.

"The president asked that a group be put together," which the administration refers to as the "Super Intelligence Force," to ensure the US remains a leader in advanced AI while ⁠protecting Americans' interests, Clayton told the Journal, adding that "the risk of not being first is high."

The safety of AI has become a major issue in recent weeks, with some researchers warning that people building the technology believe it could kill humans within a decade. 

Trump has appeared to take a light touch toward AI regulation, arguing that excessive oversight could weaken competitiveness against China. He said on Tuesday that he does not want to work with ‌Chinese ⁠President Xi Jinping on governing AI technology.

Clayton's panel will review AI-related risks and current government reporting mechanisms for breaches, hacks and other incidents, and recommend ways to strengthen federal-response capabilities under existing authorities, the Journal said, citing the task force's charter.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Reuters



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