US Treasury secretary emerges as frontrunner for Trump’s AI czar role: Report

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is reportedly being considered as US President Donald Trump’s next artificial intelligence czar, days after Trump announced plans for an “AI Force” amid mounting concerns about the technology’s risks.

Bessent is a frontrunner for the position, three sources familiar with the matter told Semafor. Other candidates include the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, a former managing partner of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross.

However, White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Semafor that “any reporting about personnel decisions that have not been officially announced by the administration should be regarded as baseless speculation.”

Cointelegraph reached out to the White House and the US Treasury Department for comment.

Trump announced his plans for an AI czar and AI Force in a Sept. 19 Truth Social post, without sharing many details about what it would do.

Trump previously tapped David Sacks as his AI and crypto czar. Sacks left the role earlier this year after reaching his service limit as a special government employee, but continues advising the president through the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Related: AI potential to drive crypto demand remains ‘underappreciated’: BlackRock