Trump says US will form 'AI Force' and appoint an artificial intelligence tsar

September 19, 2026

President Donald Trump announced plans to establish an "AI Force" and appoint an artificial intelligence czar, while rejecting calls to slow AI development despite growing safety concerns from industry leaders and researchers. Trump characterized warnings about AI dangers as a "hoax" and emphasized his desire to maintain U.S. leadership over China in the technology, estimating AI could contribute 25% to the country's GDP. This announcement comes amid increasing alarm from major AI companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google, which have experienced security breaches and whose leaders are calling for industry deceleration and regulation.

Who is affected

U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration
Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government
Major AI companies: Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and xAI
AI company leaders: Dario Amodei (Anthropic), Sam Altman (OpenAI), Elon Musk (xAI), and Jack Clark (Anthropic co-founder)
Current and former AI researchers
U.S. lawmakers proposing AI legislation
UK Members of Parliament and peers on the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR)
General public and potential victims of AI-related malicious activity

What action is being taken

Trump's administration is forming an "AI Force" and appointing an AI czar
The administration is using the existing criminal and civil justice system to target bad actors using AI
Major AI companies (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google) are racing to develop better AI systems including super intelligence
AI companies are disclosing security breaches and incidents of chatbots being used for malicious activity
U.S. lawmakers are proposing legislation around AI technology
The UK's Joint Committee on Human Rights is publishing a report calling for a new AI bill

Why it matters

This represents a critical juncture in AI governance where the world's largest economy is choosing accelerated development over precautionary regulation despite warnings from leading experts. The U.S.-China AI rivalry could shape global technological dominance for decades, with Trump estimating AI's potential economic impact at 25% of GDP. The tension between Trump's dismissal of safety concerns as a "hoax" and industry leaders' calls for slowdown and regulation highlights fundamental disagreements about managing existential risks from technology that could potentially surpass human intelligence. The outcome of this debate will determine whether AI development proceeds with or without adequate safeguards against risks that some researchers estimate could include human extinction.

What's next

Trump will meet with President Xi Jinping next week, where AI is expected to be discussed
The UK's Joint Committee on Human Rights is calling for a new bill on AI to address human rights threats

Read full article from source: BBC