President Donald Trump said he will appoint an artificial intelligence czar and establish an “AI Force” modeled on the Space Force, creating a new layer of White House oversight around an industry facing warnings about safety and human control.
Trump said the administration would support AI’s growth rather than “hinder or stifle” it, while using existing criminal and civil justice systems to address harmful conduct, according to NBC News. The announcement, made in a Truth Social post on Sept. 19, 2026, did not identify the person who would fill the czar position or provide details about the task force’s structure, authority or timeline. Trump wrote that “only High I.Q. individuals need apply” for the role.
Trump proposes growth with enforcement through existing systems
Trump framed the initiative as a way to protect the AI industry from what he called its “decimation” without allowing harmful activity to go unchecked. He said the administration would “cherish,” help and watch over the technology as it grows, but he did not describe new regulations or a dedicated enforcement mechanism beyond the justice system already in place.
The White House did not immediately provide additional information about the proposed AI Force. It remains unclear which agencies would participate, whether the czar would coordinate existing federal programs, and how the administration would define conduct requiring criminal or civil action.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States must lead the global AI race, saying, “Whoever wins AI wins.” His position places national competition at the center of a debate over the technology’s implications for safety, oversight and economic power.
He also called Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang while Huang was speaking at an industry summit, with Huang putting the conversation on speakerphone for the audience. The call, described in a report on Trump’s conversation with Huang, underscored Trump’s continued engagement with major technology executives as his administration weighs how to encourage AI investment while addressing concerns about the industry.
Researchers warn that regulation is running out of time
The proposed task force comes after AI researchers and industry leaders called for a slowdown in the technology’s development. They have warned that AI could eventually move beyond human control, prompting renewed calls for regulation.
Trump has dismissed those concerns as a “hoax.” Based on his announcement, the administration’s approach is not to pause AI development but to preserve rapid growth while responding to misconduct through existing legal institutions.
During a closed-door congressional briefing, Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, widely known as the “godfather of AI,” told lawmakers that Congress had “maybe a year” to regulate the industry. His warning added urgency to a legislative debate that has produced little progress in recent years, despite efforts by lawmakers from both parties.
Congress is again discussing AI as warnings intensify, but the available reporting does not identify a specific federal bill or proposal that has advanced. The scope of any national oversight effort therefore remains unresolved as the administration considers its new structure.
States move ahead as federal policy remains unsettled
Several Democratic governors viewed as potential 2028 presidential candidates have pursued state-level responses. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order seeking greater oversight of the AI industry and directed a task force to consider whether companies should be required to create a “kill switch.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has called for federal AI regulation. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger launched an AI task force and a data center accountability plan focused on concerns and risks tied to the technology’s rapid development.
Former President Barack Obama also advised Democrats at a fundraiser to prioritize an AI policy plan, saying he would make the issue central if he were running in 2028. Activity at the state and political levels reflects a widening debate over whether AI oversight should focus primarily on safety, infrastructure, competition or all three.
The next steps will define the “AI Force”
Trump previously had an AI and cryptocurrency czar, David Sacks, who left the position earlier in the year because of limits on his term as a special government employee. Sacks has since taken an advisory role in the administration. The new announcement does not say whether the next AI czar would have a similar advisory function or a broader operational mandate.
The administration also has not said how the proposed force would interact with existing federal research and technology initiatives. The lack of details makes the appointment, once announced, a key test of whether Trump’s plan is primarily a coordination office, an enforcement effort or a broader national strategy.
For now, Trump’s message combines strong support for AI development with a promise to pursue harmful activity through existing justice systems. Researchers, lawmakers and state officials are pushing for more specific safeguards, while the White House has yet to explain how its new czar and task force would translate that balance into policy.