This weekend, President Donald Trump said the United States should create an "AI Force" and appoint an AI czar in a combative Truth Social post. In the fiery social media post, Trump presented artificial intelligence as something to promote rather than slow down.
Here's what to know
Exactly what an "AI Force" would do has not been spelled out, as ABC News detailed. In the post, Trump said he wants it modeled on the Space Force created during his first term and said he plans to name an AI czar in the "near future."
He paired that proposal with a rejection of AI-safety concerns, calling so-called AI alignment, the effort to make sure advanced AI systems behave safely and predictably, a "hoax." In the post, he wrote that "we will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry" and that the U.S. would "cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!"
AI tools are already shaping daily life, from hiring and education to health care, customer service, and the information people see online. A hands-off federal approach could speed innovation, but it could also leave the public with fewer protections against scams, bias, job disruption, and misinformation.
Rather than calling for new AI rules, ABC News noted Trump said harmful uses could be handled through the existing criminal and civil justice system.
More background
Trump's announcement comes as some of the most influential figures in tech are urging more caution on AI development, the outlet said.
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Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for a slower pace, and Sam Altman, OpenAI's chief executive, said his company would also accept slower progress so capabilities do not "get ahead of alignment and monitoring."
ABC News noted that any effort to create another military branch would require Congress, which established Space Force in 2020 under the Department of Defense as the sixth branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The White House did not immediately respond to the network's request for comment.
What's being done?
Calls for safer AI are coming from a combination of lawmakers and tech leaders who argue that stronger safeguards are needed before the systems become even more powerful.
U.S. AI policy remains unsettled. One path prioritizes speed and competition, while the other emphasizes oversight and accountability. Which direction prevails could help determine who benefits from AI, and who is left to absorb the risks.
After reading Trump's post, it's clear which side he is on: he pushes for a full-steam-ahead approach, with a new agency to spearhead growth.
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