US President Donald Trump has announced plans to create an “AI Force” modelled on the US Space Force and appoint a new artificial intelligence “czar”, as Washington seeks to maintain its lead over China in the rapidly developing technology.
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social on September 19, saying his administration would “cherish” and support the AI industry rather than “hinder or stifle” its growth. He said harmful uses of AI could be addressed through existing criminal and civil justice systems.
However, Trump did not explain whether the proposed AI Force would be military or civilian, where it would sit within the federal government, how it would be funded or what powers it would have.
The announcement comes amid a growing US debate over AI safety, with technology leaders including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman calling for a slower pace of development and stronger safeguards.
Trump has rejected such calls, while US officials are preparing to discuss AI security with Chinese counterparts ahead of his September 24 meeting with President Xi Jinping.
A New AI Command?
Trump compared the proposed AI Force with the Space Force, the newest branch of the US military established during his first term, but provided few details about how the new body would work.
The White House has not clarified whether it would be a military organisation, civilian agency or interdepartmental task force. Media reported that Trump gave no implementation details, while The Washington Post noted that the administration had not immediately explained the proposed body’s status or authority.
Trump also said he would soon appoint an AI “czar” to oversee the government’s approach to the technology. The position would revive a role previously held by venture capitalist David Sacks, who left the formal AI and crypto czar position earlier this year but remains involved as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Trump has framed AI as the “next Industrial Revolution” and has repeatedly said maintaining American leadership is essential as competition with China intensifies.
Safety Debate Deepens
Trump’s announcement comes after an unusually intense debate within the technology industry over the pace of AI development. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently called for leading AI companies to slow the development of frontier systems and proposed independent safety evaluations, greater coordination between companies and international cooperation.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI’s Elon Musk have also backed calls for greater caution. Amodei has argued that AI capabilities could advance faster than society’s ability to understand and control them, while Trump has dismissed such warnings as a “hoax” and opposed calls for broad new restrictions.
The technology industry itself remains divided: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have opposed a coordinated slowdown, arguing that innovation and safety can be pursued without a blanket halt. Meanwhile, concerns are also growing around the expansion of AI data centres, including their impact on electricity use and local communities.
The US-China AI Race
The timing of Trump’s announcement is significant as Washington and Beijing prepare for high-level discussions on AI security, trade and technology. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York, with AI security among the issues on the agenda, ahead of Trump’s September 24 meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Media reported that discussions are expected to cover AI security as well as wider economic issues, while Bessent has indicated that both open- and closed-weight AI models will be considered. The broader US-China debate includes advanced chips, technology exports, military applications and the rules governing increasingly powerful AI systems.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Artificial intelligence is developing at a pace that could bring major economic and social benefits, but its impact will depend on how responsibly governments and technology companies manage that transition. Trump’s proposed AI Force and new czar signal that Washington sees AI as a strategic priority, but the absence of details leaves important questions about transparency, accountability, safety and public oversight. At the same time, calls from technology leaders for greater safeguards show that concern about AI is not limited to governments or critics of the industry.
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