The White House’s artificial intelligence task force finalized its charter on Thursday, initiating a 120-day period to determine the extent of federal oversight needed.
After its inaugural meeting, the panel decided to request a report from the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology to assess AI risks, as reported by Semafor. This report will focus on areas such as cybersecurity, protection of critical infrastructure, biosecurity, dual-use applications, and accountability in model control.
A White House representative mentioned that the group plans to connect with various stakeholders outside the government as part of its efforts.
Throughout its work, the [task force] will collaborate with developers of advanced models, consumer protection organizations, civil liberties advocates, industry representatives, and federal and state law enforcement agencies to guide its initiatives.
Additionally, the task force established a working group to carry out the White House Accord on Super Intelligence, which was signed by major AI executives earlier this month. This initiative is being directed by Jay Clayton, the chair of the task force and Director of National Intelligence, together with National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross.
Emil Michael, the Undersecretary of Defense, will work on creating protocols for laboratories to report cyber breaches and incidents to the government. He will also engage with advanced laboratories to foster long-term collaboration across federal agencies.
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson will head a committee focused on law enforcement and consumer protection, which will include the Justice Department. Meanwhile, Scott Kupor, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, will oversee critical-infrastructure protection and assess AI’s effects on the American job market in coordination with the Labor Department.
Key members of the task force include Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Michael Kratsios, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Also involved are White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Deputy Richard Walters.
An official from the White House indicated to Semafor that one possible tool could be export controls, which the Commerce Department had implemented temporarily on Anthropic after the company restricted the government from full access to its models.
The task force’s formation follows President Donald Trump’s executive order from September 29, which instructed federal agencies to use the term “super intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence.” This order coincided with a White House luncheon attended by around two dozen technology executives, where six leading firms adopted a voluntary Accord that Trump described as “morally binding.”
Clayton, confirmed this summer as the new intelligence chief and a former SEC chairman, mentioned to the Wall Street Journal that the administration’s main goal is to keep the U.S. ahead of China.
“The risk of not being first is significant,” Clayton remarked.
