President Donald Trump is expected to appoint Jay Clayton, the current director of national intelligence, as the White House's new artificial intelligence czar, according to multiple reports citing sources familiar with the discussions. The plan under discussion would allow Clayton to hold both roles simultaneously.
Trump announced last month his intention to create an "AI Force" and appoint an AI czar amid growing calls for guardrails on AI technology. He recently met with AI and tech CEOs at the White House, who signed a commitment to voluntarily self-police their AI models.
While CBS News and CNN have reported on Clayton as the likely choice, a White House official told CBS News that "Any personnel announcement will be announced directly by the President. Any reporting until then is baseless speculation."
Clayton, who was confirmed by the Senate in July to lead the U.S. intelligence community, previously served as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan and chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission during most of Trump's first term. During his confirmation hearing for DNI, Clayton called AI a "game changer" that presents both "an opportunity and a threat."
Venture capitalist David Sacks previously held the role of AI and cryptocurrency czar until March 2026 but stepped down. He continues to influence the president on AI matters and co-chairs the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
