President Donald Trump says he plans to create an “AI Force” and appoint a new AI czar, putting the federal government behind an aggressive push to expand AI while rejecting calls for the industry to slow down. The announcement comes as concerns over AI safety, data center power consumption and the risks posed by increasingly capable models are becoming harder for Washington and Silicon Valley to ignore.

Trump announced the plans Saturday, comparing the proposed AI Force to the Space Force created during his first administration. Details about its structure, responsibilities or whether it would be a civilian or military organization are yet to be provided. 

Trump also said he would appoint a new AI czar, although he did not identify the person who would take on the role. However, the move is a clear indication that the Trump administration wants the US to maintain its momentum as competition with China intensifies.

Trump has dismissed concerns that increasingly capable AI systems could eventually pose an existential threat, describing such fears as a “hoax” and arguing that existing criminal and civil justice systems can be used to deal with harmful applications.

“We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows! However, we will also be looking for BAD, and we can do that, very easily, with our already existing Criminal and Civil Justice System,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 

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