Trump announces AI Force, plans tech czar, and proposes renaming artificial intelligence

Presidential oversight and the AI Force

US President Donald Trump announced on 19 September 2026 that he is establishing a federal body named the AI Force to oversee the artificial intelligence sector. Trump stated that the organization is modelled directly on the Space Force, which was created during his first term in office. The administration plans to appoint an AI czar shortly to direct the initiative, specifying that only individuals with high intelligence will be considered for the post. Trump emphasized that the initiative will track and pursue bad actors by utilizing existing civil and criminal justice systems rather than imposing restrictive new mandates. He rejected calls for independent regulatory oversight, asserting that Washington will not permit domestic measures that could stifle technological growth.

I am establishing the AI Force, just as I did with the Space Force, which was a huge success in my first term. I will announce the AI 'Zar' in the near future: time-wasters stay away, we are only looking for high IQ people!

Rebranding poll and economic strategy

In parallel with the administrative rollout, Trump launched a poll on Truth Social to replace the term artificial intelligence. He contended that the existing title is inaccurate and inelegant, asking followers to choose between Superior Intelligence, Extreme Intelligence, or Supreme Intelligence. Trump framed the technology as a transformation exceeding the scale of the internet and previous industrial eras. According to his projection, the sector could eventually generate up to 25% of United States gross domestic product. He dismissed warnings regarding unregulated growth, comparing safety concerns to alarms over climate change, and stressed that maintaining an economic lead over China requires aggressive domestic development.

We will not hinder or stifle in any way the growth of this incredible industry. On the contrary, we will protect it, help it and watch over it as it grows.

Industry clash over development pace

The administration's stance follows deep divisions among technology leaders regarding whether to slow down model releases. Dario Amodei, the chief executive of Anthropic, published an essay one week earlier urging companies to moderate their pace to build stronger safety safeguards. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and xAI founder Elon Musk similarly voiced caution concerning system control and the rapid accumulation of power. In contrast, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg rejected calls for a coordinated pause on 15 September 2026, arguing that market competition and legal liability provide sufficient accountability. Trump firmly opposed regulatory limits, having previously described warnings surrounding data centers on 14 September 2026 as a sick conspiracy that would only benefit foreign competitors.