President Donald Trump has announced plans to establish a new “AI Force” and appoint a dedicated artificial intelligence czar, signaling his intention to aggressively support the expansion of the AI industry in the United States. The announcement came in a September 19 post on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he likened the proposed AI Force to the Space Force, the military branch he created during his first term.
Details regarding the structure, responsibilities, or timeline for implementation of the AI Force were not provided. Trump emphasized that his administration would not impede the growth of the AI sector, stating that the government would “cherish it, help it, and watch over it,” while using the existing criminal and civil justice systems to address any malicious activities involving AI technologies. He also dismissed concerns about AI posing an existential threat as a “HOAX.”
The planned AI czar would be Trump’s second, following venture capitalist David Sacks, who was appointed to the post in December 2024 and resigned from the government role in May but continues to serve as an adviser. Trump did not reveal when his new AI czar would be named or identify any candidates.
Trump’s announcement comes amid increasing debate over the pace and risks of AI development. Some technology leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, have urged slowing the advancement of AI models, citing potential dangers such as loss of control, cyberattacks, bioterrorism, and economic disruptions. In a recent essay, Amodei argued for a more cautious approach to the rapid improvements in AI capabilities, warning that these systems might evolve faster than human understanding and oversight can keep up with.
Conversely, other prominent figures, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk, have expressed support for Trump’s stance against curtailing AI progress. Musk’s SpaceX subsidiary, which owns the AI platform Grok, is among those advocating continued development of the technology.
Trump described AI as a transformative force comparable to the Industrial Revolution or the internet and suggested it could eventually contribute up to 25% of the U.S. economy. He stressed the importance of maintaining American leadership in AI, especially in competition with China.
David Sacks, who remains an adviser to the Trump administration, has reinforced the president’s position that AI should continue to evolve rapidly. In a recent interview, Sacks stated that AI companies bear the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of their products and characterized fears about AI’s existential risks as exaggerated.
As lawmakers and officials in Washington continue to debate whether additional regulations or safeguards are necessary, Trump’s announcement signals a commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth in the AI sector while relying on existing legal frameworks to manage potential risks.