Exclusive: The national intelligence chief steering AI

“He is hyper-competent and a problem-solver with good instincts, and that’s why he’s so valued.” Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton has received mostly positive marks so far in Washington as chair of the Trump administration’s AI task force, which is focusing on using current law to get AI companies to behave responsibly. A number of people familiar with Clayton’s work tell Semafor his experience at the Securities and Exchange Commission and Office of the Director of National Intelligence aligns well with the two areas threatened the most by advanced AI: finance and national security.

“He is hyper-competent and a problem-solver with good instincts, and that’s why he’s so valued,” one former White House official told Semafor. “He’s just a guy who doesn’t f*ck up and delivers results that they need and want, and so they just keep promoting him, because there aren’t a lot of those.” Paul Lekas, executive vice president for policy at the Software & Information Industry Association, said Clayton’s role atop the task force “signals that the White House is focused on the national security dimension of super intelligence.” Three industry sources told Semafor that the task force is now focused on staffing up to carry out its work.

As far as Clayton’s future goes, one tech lobbyist told Semafor to watch what happens on day 121 (the task force’s work is supposed to be completed in 120 days). “If [Clayton] can get agencies approaching AI from very different directions to keep sharing information, coordinating decisions and agreeing on responsibilities … his influence will last well beyond any one appointment,” the lobbyist said. Others are skeptical the task force can accomplish much in such a short time period, arguing that eventually sweeping new legislation will be needed to regulate AI.