President Donald Trump has announced plans to establish an 'AI Force' dedicated to the artificial intelligence (AI) industry and appoint an 'AI czar.' This announcement comes as discussions grow around slowing the pace of AI development due to safety concerns, reaffirming Trump's commitment to supporting the industry's growth to maintain U.S. leadership in AI.
On September 19, Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social, "Like the 'Space Force' we created during my first term, we will establish the AI Force." He added that he would announce the AI czar soon and encouraged only those with high IQs to apply, though he did not provide specific details.
The Wall Street Journal reported that this marks the first time Trump has mentioned the possibility of a new federal organization solely focused on AI, indicating a plan to address issues related to the AI industry.
This announcement comes amid rising concerns about the rapid advancement of AI. Recently, leading U.S. AI companies, including Anthropic, have warned that AI could pose serious risks to humanity, intensifying the debate over the pace and safety of AI development.
Trump has taken a critical stance against the notion of 'speed control' for AI development, arguing that excessive regulation could undermine the U.S.'s technological competitiveness. He contends that to maintain an edge in the AI race with China and to foster economic growth, the development of the AI industry should not be hindered.
On the same day, Trump asserted, "We will not hinder or suppress this amazing industry in any way," claiming that AI represents the next industrial revolution and could account for up to 25% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) due to its scale and impact.
However, it remains uncertain how the AI-focused organization will be operated and who will lead it. Various U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense's Chief Digital and AI Office (CDAO), the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the Department of Commerce, already handle AI and technology policy.
There are concerns that differing views on AI safety within and outside the Trump administration could complicate future AI policy directions. Adam Kovacevich, head of the tech industry group Chamber of Progress, told the Wall Street Journal, "This announcement shows that President Trump feels the need to address AI issues but is uncertain about what specific actions to take."
Recently, the debate over the pace of AI development has escalated into legal disputes. According to the Associated Press, a class-action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and SpaceX AI, alleging that these companies colluded to slow down AI development, violating antitrust laws.
The plaintiffs argue that while individual companies can set their own safety standards and adjust their development speeds, any agreement among competitors to collectively slow down development constitutes anti-competitive behavior prohibited by antitrust laws.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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