Trump Announces ‘AI Force,’ Czar Appointment After Industry Titans Urged Caution
President Donald Trump announced plans to form an "AI Force" and appoint an "AI 'Czar'" to boost artificial intelligence development, despite warnings from industry leaders like Anthropic, xAI, and OpenAI. Trump dismissed opposition to AI and data centers as a political "hoax," emphasizing their economic benefits and promising federal support while leveraging existing legal systems to address potential risks. He also noted public opposition to data centers and rising electricity prices in states like California.
Former President Donald Trump, in a recent post to Truth Social, unveiled his intent to establish an "AI Force" and designate an "AI 'Czar'" if he returns to office. This initiative aims to accelerate artificial intelligence development, a stance that diverges from industry leaders such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, xAI CEO Elon Musk, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who have advocated for a more cautious approach to AI. Trump categorized concerns about AI and data centers as politically motivated "hoaxes" by the "Radical Left," drawing parallels to past political controversies.
Trump asserted that data centers bring wealth, prestige, higher salaries, lower taxes, and safer streets to communities, countering public opposition, which a Gallup poll indicated stands at 75% against data centers near homes. He dismissed arguments for slowing AI development, stating that strong leadership and existing legal frameworks are sufficient to manage potential risks. The announcement also referenced California's nearly 96% increase in electricity prices between 2014 and 2024, despite having nearly 300 data centers, and highlighted the data center industry's growth in American jobs.
The former President reiterated his commitment to fostering the growth of the AI industry, viewing it as the "next Industrial Revolution" and a critical area where the U.S. must maintain its lead over China. He alluded to an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping where AI would likely be a discussion topic, emphasizing his belief that "WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS!" Trump also directly criticized Amodei, accusing him of hypocrisy for advocating caution after alleged past incidents involving AI models.