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President Donald Trump says he is creating an “AI Force” and plans to appoint an artificial intelligence “czar” as Washington and the technology industry debate how quickly advanced AI should be developed. Trump announced the proposal Saturday, Sept. 19, on Truth Social but provided few details about the proposed organization, including its structure, budget or whether it would be a civilian or military entity.

Trump compared the proposed force to the U.S. Space Force, which Congress established during his first administration. He said the new effort would focus on identifying harmful uses of artificial intelligence while allowing the industry to continue expanding.

Trump Calls for Continued AI Development

In his social media post, Trump said the administration would not “hinder or stifle” the growth of the AI industry. He also said the government would look for harmful activity and could rely on existing criminal and civil laws to address it.

Trump has repeatedly framed artificial intelligence as an area of international competition, particularly between the United States and China. His administration's broader AI strategy has emphasized maintaining U.S. technological leadership, expanding computing infrastructure and encouraging domestic development.

The White House previously released an AI Action Plan outlining policies intended to expand U.S. AI infrastructure and strengthen the country's position in the global technology competition. A June 2026 executive order also established a voluntary framework for assessing cybersecurity risks associated with advanced AI models.

No Details Yet on the AI Force

Despite announcing the initiative, Trump did not explain how the AI Force would operate or where it would be located within the federal government.

Reuters reported that Trump said he would name an AI czar “in the near future.” The position would follow the departure of venture capitalist David Sacks from his formal role as the administration's AI and crypto czar earlier this year.

The Washington Post reported that the White House had not immediately clarified whether the proposed AI Force would be a military or civilian organization.

The lack of details leaves questions about the force's authority, staffing, funding and relationship with existing federal agencies that already oversee cybersecurity, technology and national security.

AI Force Intensifies Safety Debate 

Trump's announcement comes as several prominent technology executives have publicly discussed slowing the pace of advanced AI development.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently proposed what he called “pacing the frontier,” arguing that the development of increasingly capable AI systems should proceed at a rate that gives researchers more time to evaluate and secure them. His proposal includes independent third-party evaluators working inside frontier AI companies.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk have publicly supported portions of Amodei's proposal, according to reporting by The Washington Post. The debate has focused in part on whether safety research and oversight are advancing quickly enough to keep pace with AI capabilities.

Trump has taken a different position on the pace of development, arguing that restrictions could undermine U.S. competitiveness with China. His administration has repeatedly described AI leadership as an economic and national-security priority.

Trump Also Floats a New Name for AI

Trump's Saturday posts also included a poll asking whether artificial intelligence should receive a different name. Among the alternatives he proposed were “Extreme Intelligence” and “Supreme Intelligence.”

The naming discussion came alongside his announcement of the AI Force, although no federal process for changing the terminology was announced.

The central policy question remains how the administration will balance continued AI development with efforts to address cybersecurity, misuse and other potential risks.

What Comes Next

For now, the AI Force remains an announced proposal rather than a fully described federal organization. Trump has not identified the person who would serve as AI czar or explained the agency's specific responsibilities.

The next steps could provide more information about whether the initiative would coordinate existing federal AI and cybersecurity programs or create a new organizational structure.

The proposal also comes shortly before Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, with AI among the issues expected to be discussed as the two countries compete over advanced technology, computer chips and related infrastructure.

Additional Information

• Reuters — Trump says he will create “AI Force” and name AI czar
• The Washington Post — Trump to form “AI Force,” name AI czar but rejects calls for constraints
• ABC News — Trump says he will form new “AI Force”
• White House — National AI Legislative Framework
• White House — Executive Order on Advanced AI Innovation and Security
• America’s AI Action Plan
• The Washington Post — AI leaders call for slowing the pace of development
• Engadget — Trump says he's creating an AI Force

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