The contest to become President Donald Trump's next AI czar is taking shape, with four prominent figures reported to be in the running to lead a newly created "AI Force" overseeing policy toward the trillion-dollar artificial intelligence industry.
Trump announced on September 19 that he would appoint a new AI adviser and create an "AI Force," with the "high IQ" tech wizard inheriting an AI landscape that has changed dramatically since venture capitalist David Sacks became Trump's first AI and crypto czar in late 2024. Sacks stepped down in March after reaching the 130-day service limit for special government employees.
The reported contenders
Sriram Krishnan, the senior White House policy advisor on AI, is one of "The Architects of AI" named in TIME Magazine's 2025 Persons of the Year. A Chennai native who previously held senior roles at Microsoft, Meta and xAI, Krishnan designed the administration's AI Action Plan, which aimed to roll back regulation and promote data-center growth.
Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, has been widely described as the frontrunner. He has repeatedly argued AI companies should be liable for what their models do — "the creators are liable for what they build and generate," he told the House Financial Services Committee — but he denied on Fox News that Trump has already offered him the post, calling a Reuters report to that effect "fake news."
Sean Cairncross, the National Cyber Director, has been central to the administration's AI policymaking since 2025. He has clashed with Bessent over Treasury's growing involvement in AI matters, and some administration insiders previously told Politico they doubted the former Republican operative was up to regulating frontier AI labs.
Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, has been one of Trump's leading technology advisers. At the United Nations this week he argued against slowing frontier AI development or imposing global governance: "You cannot govern a technology you do not understand," he said.
High stakes
The appointment comes as OpenAI and Anthropic call for greater government intervention while senators press ahead with new legislation for frontier labs. Senator Josh Hawley, a vocal proponent of strict AI regulation, said he wants a czar who puts "everyday citizens' best interests at heart" — and argued Congress should also limit data centers and restrict AI chatbots from pushing sexual content to children.
Sources:
Trump's new superintelligence czar: Here's who is in the running to lead new AI Force — New York Post
Trump announced on September 19 that he would appoint a new AI adviser and create an "AI Force," with the "high IQ" tech wizard inheriting an AI landscape that has changed dramatically since venture capitalist David Sacks became Trump's first AI and crypto czar in late 2024. Sacks stepped down in March after reaching the 130-day service limit for special government employees.
The reported contenders
Sriram Krishnan, the senior White House policy advisor on AI, is one of "The Architects of AI" named in TIME Magazine's 2025 Persons of the Year. A Chennai native who previously held senior roles at Microsoft, Meta and xAI, Krishnan designed the administration's AI Action Plan, which aimed to roll back regulation and promote data-center growth.
Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, has been widely described as the frontrunner. He has repeatedly argued AI companies should be liable for what their models do — "the creators are liable for what they build and generate," he told the House Financial Services Committee — but he denied on Fox News that Trump has already offered him the post, calling a Reuters report to that effect "fake news."
Sean Cairncross, the National Cyber Director, has been central to the administration's AI policymaking since 2025. He has clashed with Bessent over Treasury's growing involvement in AI matters, and some administration insiders previously told Politico they doubted the former Republican operative was up to regulating frontier AI labs.
Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, has been one of Trump's leading technology advisers. At the United Nations this week he argued against slowing frontier AI development or imposing global governance: "You cannot govern a technology you do not understand," he said.
High stakes
The appointment comes as OpenAI and Anthropic call for greater government intervention while senators press ahead with new legislation for frontier labs. Senator Josh Hawley, a vocal proponent of strict AI regulation, said he wants a czar who puts "everyday citizens' best interests at heart" — and argued Congress should also limit data centers and restrict AI chatbots from pushing sexual content to children.
Sources:
Trump's new superintelligence czar: Here's who is in the running to lead new AI Force — New York Post
