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President Donald Trump said in a social media post Saturday that he plans to appoint a new artificial intelligence adviser known as an “AI czar” and create an “AI squad,” but did not elaborate on either initiative or how it would be implemented.
In Washington, there is growing concern among lawmakers about the risks AI technology poses to people and property. Earlier this month, former anthropologist Jacob Coxon said, “The people developing AI seriously believe that AI could wipe out humanity by the end of the decade.” President Trump has repeatedly downplayed concerns about AI and argued that additional regulation is unnecessary.
“We do not intend to hinder or stifle the growth of this great industry in any way,” Trump said on his social media platform TruthSocial. “Rather, we care for it, we help it, and we watch it grow! But we also look for BAD, and that can be done very easily with our existing criminal and civil justice systems.”
If Trump follows through on his promise, it will be his second AI czar. Venture capitalist David Sachs previously held that role, but resigned in the spring to move into an outside advisory role.
Sachs echoed Trump’s skepticism about new AI regulations. Speaking at a Politico event on Wednesday, he said AI developers should be responsible for ensuring their products are safe and can be held accountable if something goes wrong, adding that new federal rules are not needed.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s post.
President Trump’s post came ahead of his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. The United States and China are competing for leadership in artificial intelligence, with both governments seeing it as essential to their economic and military might. President Trump and technology executives have argued that overregulation slows U.S. AI development and hurts U.S. companies’ ability to compete with Chinese rivals, a claim often disputed by security advocates.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Sunday. JP Morgan Chase It will be headquartered in New York to discuss AI security, trade and other economic issues, people familiar with the plans said Saturday.
