Trump vows to form ‘AI Force,’ name new Artificial Intelligence czar

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he plans to create an "AI Force" and appoint a new artificial intelligence czar, as he rejects calls from some technology leaders to slow the development of increasingly powerful AI systems.

Trump announced the plans in a Truth Social post, comparing the proposed AI Force to Space Force, which he established during his first term. He did not provide details about the group's structure, responsibilities or when it would begin operating.

Trump also said he would soon announce an "AI Czar," though again, he did not identify a candidate for the position. It would be his second AI czar, after venture capitalist David Sacks stepped down from the White House role earlier this year and moved into an external advisory position.

The announcement comes as concerns over the pace of AI development have intensified among some technology leaders and researchers. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for the industry to slow the development of frontier AI models, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk have expressed support for his call.

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What did Trump say about the AI Force?

Trump said the United States should not "hinder or stifle" the growth of the AI industry, arguing that existing criminal and civil justice systems can be used to address harmful activity.

He also dismissed concerns that advanced AI could become a threat to humanity, calling those fears a "HOAX."

Trump described AI as the next Industrial Revolution or internet, and said it could eventually account for as much as 25% of the U.S. economy. He also emphasized competition with China, saying the United States is currently leading in AI and that he intends for the U.S. to maintain that position.

Why are some AI leaders calling for a slowdown?

Amodei has warned that rapidly advancing AI systems could create risks involving loss of control, cyberattacks, bioterrorism and major economic disruption.

In a recent essay, Amodei said AI development should continue, but argued that companies need to slow the pace at which they improve the capabilities of their models. He said AI systems could advance faster than humans' ability to understand and control them.

Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon has also warned about the potential dangers posed by increasingly capable AI systems. His comments came as lawmakers and officials in Washington debate whether additional safeguards are needed.

Trump has rejected those calls in recent weeks.

President Donald Trump is pictured at his Trump International Golf Club on the final day's play at the Amgen Irish Open on Sept.13, 2026 in Doonbeg, Ireland. U.S. President Donald Trump is making a two-day visit to Ireland this weekend. Today his trip focuses on attending the Amgen Irish Open golf tournament, which is being hosted at his Doonbeg golf resort.

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Who was Trump's previous AI czar?

Sacks was appointed Trump's White House AI and crypto czar in December 2024. He stepped down from the government position in May 2026 and remains an adviser to the administration.

Sacks has echoed Trump's position that AI development should continue. In a recent CBS News interview, he said AI companies should be responsible for making their products safe, and argued that fears about AI's potential threat to humanity are overblown.

Trump's Saturday announcement did not specify when the new AI czar would be named or provide details about how the proposed AI Force would operate.

Contributing: USA TODAY reporter Joey Garrison

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump vows to form 'AI Force,' name new Artificial Intelligence czar