President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he plans to create a new government initiative called the "AI Force." He also said he would soon name an artificial intelligence czar to help guide the effort.
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social on Saturday. He compared the new group to Space Force, which he created during his first term in office.
"For this purpose, I am forming the AI Force, much like I did Space Force, which has been a tremendous SUCCESS, in my First Term," Trump wrote. He added that only "High I.Q. individuals" should apply for the czar role.
What We Know About the Plan
Trump did not explain how the AI Force would be structured. It is unclear if it will function as a military branch, a civilian agency, or something else entirely.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment from several news outlets, including Newsweek and the New York Times.
Trump said the plan would avoid new rules that could slow down the AI industry. He wrote that his administration would "not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry."
He also said existing criminal and civil laws are enough to handle any misconduct by AI companies. Trump called AI the next industrial revolution and said it could eventually make up 25% of the country's economic output.
This announcement marks a change in tone from Trump's recent statements. Earlier this month, he dismissed fears about AI risks as a "hoax."
He also claimed there was a conspiracy against AI development and data centers. His latest post frames the AI Force as a way to support growth rather than restrict it.
Industry Reaction and Recent AI Safety Talks
The announcement comes as several tech leaders have spoken about the need for safety measures in AI development. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently wrote a three step proposal aimed at slowing the pace of AI development.
Amodei warned that AI systems could "outrun our ability to understand and control" them if left unchecked. On Sunday, Anthropic said it had chosen Accenture as its first embedded evaluator to help carry out that plan.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk both responded positively to Amodei's proposal online. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang did not agree, saying such regulation was not necessary.
Trump has repeatedly described AI as a competition with China. He said in his post that the United States is currently leading and that he intends to keep it that way.
John Walsh, a technology executive at IGEL, told Newsweek that the goal should not be creating another government office for its own sake. He said the focus should be on building trust and safety standards that let the industry move faster with confidence.
No timeline has been given for when the AI czar will be named or when the AI Force will begin operating.
