Trump wants to appoint an AI czar and create an AI force

Donald Trump has announced on the social network Truth Social that he will appoint a so-called AI czar, a person responsible for coordinating US policy on artificial intelligence (AI refers to computer programs that can learn patterns and solve tasks that normally require human intelligence, for example the chatbot ChatGPT).

At the same time, he wants to create an AI force, which he compares to the Space Force, a branch of the US military he created during his first term and which he calls a huge success. According to Trump, the new AI force is to help the justice system deal with misuse of the technology.

High bar for the AI czar

Trump sets a high bar for who can be considered for the post of AI czar. He writes that only people with a high IQ should apply for the position. Who will be appointed has not yet been decided, but it is expected to happen in the near future.

Alongside the announcement, Trump dismisses concerns that rapid development of artificial intelligence could pose a danger to humans. He calls the fear a hoax and compares it to concern about climate change. He promises that his administration will neither put obstacles in the way of nor slow down the AI industry, but will instead protect and support it.

Trump compares the potential economic significance of AI technology to the industrial revolution, and he has previously made it clear that he wants the US to be the dominant country in artificial intelligence globally.

What it means for Danish users

The announcement comes as there are growing demands, both in the US and elsewhere in the world, for politicians to introduce rules that can limit the risks artificial intelligence can bring, for example misuse for fraud, disinformation or surveillance.

For ordinary Danes and Danish companies that use AI tools like ChatGPT in everyday life, the news means that the US, home to many of the big AI companies such as OpenAI and Google, appears to be betting even more on rapid development rather than strict rules. That could affect how quickly new AI tools come to market, and how much safety and oversight is built into them by the time they reach Danish users.

It is still unknown whom Trump will appoint as AI czar, and how the new AI force will work in practice. The details are expected to become clearer in the coming weeks and months.