Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton declared Wednesday that "super intelligence is a national security issue," weighing in on the rapidly evolving debate over artificial intelligence regulation and American competitiveness.
Clayton made the remarks during an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box," one day after President Donald Trump met at the White House with leaders from top AI companies including Anthropic and OpenAI.
The intelligence chief declined to answer questions about whether Trump would ask him to become the administration's AI "czar," or whether he would accept such a role if offered.
Clayton used Trump's preferred term for advanced AI systems, saying the national security implications were acknowledged by everyone present at Tuesday's meeting.
"Super intelligence is a national security issue, and that was something that was recognized yesterday by not just the industry leaders but everybody in the room," Clayton said. "The commitment there to the American people and the safety and security of the American people was palpable throughout the meeting."
Trump said after the meeting that he and the executives agreed the industry would "self-police" and take responsibility for developing their technology safely.
Clayton pushed back firmly against the idea of slowing down American AI development, even as some tech leaders have called for a pause over safety concerns.
"I don't even know what a pause is, but to, in some way, not try to drive forward inside the United States, with companies that are regulated in the United States ... to somehow say we should back away from this and let the rest of the world develop these models and implement these models?" Clayton said.
The comments reflect a broader tension in Washington over how to balance AI safety concerns against maintaining American technological dominance, particularly as China races to develop its own advanced AI systems.
Clayton also suggested that federal agencies like the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission are better equipped to oversee AI companies than the civil tort system, signaling a preference for regulatory enforcement over private litigation.
His remarks come as the Trump administration shapes its approach to AI governance, with input from both intelligence officials and industry leaders who stand to benefit from lighter regulation.
The White House has not announced any formal plans for an AI czar position or indicated whether Clayton is under consideration for such a role.
