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Trump to Create ‘AI Force’ and Appoint ‘AI Tsar’ but Vows Not to Stifle Industry Growth
The Sydney Morning Herald
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- Date Published
- 19 Sept 2026
- Priority Score
- 4
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 20 Sept 2026, 12:00 am
Authors (1)
- ReutersENRICHED
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Donald Trump has repeatedly downplayed concerns about AI, arguing that additional regulation is unnecessary.
Summary
The Trump administration's proposal to establish an 'AI force' and a dedicated 'AI tsar' signals a shift toward deregulatory oversight, prioritizing geopolitical competition with China over precautionary safety mandates. Despite warnings from frontier AI researchers about catastrophic risks, the administration asserts that existing legal frameworks are sufficient to manage harms without new federal rules. This approach highlights a growing tension in global AI governance between accelerating military-economic capabilities and mitigating potential existential threats posed by advanced AI systems.
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AdvertisementWashington: US President Donald Trump said he plans to appoint a new artificial intelligence adviser, known as an “AI tsar”, and create an “AI force”, though he did not provide details about either initiative or how they would be implemented.Fears are growing in Washington among lawmakers about the risks posed by AI technology on humans and property.President Donald Trump has repeatedly downplayed concerns about AI and argued that additional regulation is unnecessary.AP Photo/Jacquelyn MartinEarlier this month, former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon said that “people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade”. Trump has repeatedly downplayed concerns about AI and argued that additional regulation is unnecessary.“We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday (Washington time).Advertisement“Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows! However, we will also be looking for BAD, and we can do that, very easily, with our already existing Criminal and Civil Justice System.”If Trump follows through on the pledge, it would be his second AI tsar. Venture capitalist David Sacks previously served in the role before stepping down in the spring and moving into an external advisory position.Sacks has echoed Trump’s scepticism of new AI regulation.Speaking at a Politico event on Wednesday, he said AI developers should be responsible for ensuring the safety of their products and could be held liable if problems arise, adding that new federal rules are unnecessary.AdvertisementThe White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s post.Trump’s post comes ahead of his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.Washington and Beijing are competing for leadership in artificial intelligence, which both governments view as vital to their economic and military strength.Trump and technology executives have argued that excessive regulation would slow US AI development and undermine American companies’ ability to compete with Chinese rivals, a claim that safety advocates often refute.AdvertisementUS Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Sunday (New York time) at JPMorgan Chase headquarters in New York to discuss AI security, trade and other economic issues, a person familiar with the planning said.ReutersGet a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.SaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.ShareMore:AIDonald TrumpTrump's White HouseUSAXi JinpingAnthropicChinaAdvertisementAdvertisement