Trump rejects Bessent for AI czar role amid 'super intelligence' rebrand

Key points

• Trump stated on Truth Social that Bessent will not serve as the 'Super Intelligence (SI) Czar,' citing the secretary's preference to remain at Treasury.
• The denial follows reports from Semafor and Reuters that Bessent was a leading candidate for the role, which was previously held by David Sacks.
• Trump announced plans to create an 'AI Force' and appoint a new czar, but has not yet named a successor.
• The administration is pushing to replace 'artificial intelligence' with 'super intelligence' in US documents, a term that has specific, often alarming, meanings in the tech industry.
• Bessent remains influential in AI policy, having led negotiations with Anthropic and OpenAI and proposed a new safety notification mechanism for China.

Background

This development follows Trump's September 19 announcement of an 'AI Force' and the subsequent vacancy of the AI czar position after David Sacks stepped down. The administration's push to rebrand AI as 'super intelligence' contrasts with the term's existing definition as AI that surpasses human cognition, a concept that has sparked safety warnings from figures like Geoffrey Hinton and OpenAI.

How outlets are covering it

Politico and CNBC focus on the personnel decision, noting that Bessent's name was circulating as a serious contender before Trump's denial. Axios and The Hill emphasize the semantic clash, highlighting that 'super intelligence' is a defined term in AI safety discussions, often associated with existential risks, whereas Trump views the term as a more accurate descriptor of the technology's power. The Hill notes that Trump's rebranding proposal was made at the UN General Assembly, while Axios points out that the White House has not clarified if it considered the term's existing technical meaning.

Why it matters

The choice of an AI czar and the terminology used to describe the technology will shape US regulatory and diplomatic approaches to AI. The administration's push to rebrand the technology may influence international negotiations, particularly with China, and could impact how safety concerns are framed in policy discussions.

What to watch

The administration is expected to announce a new AI czar in the coming weeks. The push to rename AI as 'super intelligence' in US documents may face resistance from tech industry and safety advocates who use the term to describe a specific, high-risk stage of AI development.