US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is reportedly emerging as a frontrunner to serve as US President Donald Trump’s next artificial intelligence czar. According to three sources familiar with the matter who spoke with Semafor, Bessent is under consideration for the role following Trump's recent announcement regarding plans for an "AI Force" amid rising concerns over technology risks.
Additional candidates being considered for the position include Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management and former managing partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz; and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai addressed the reports in a statement to Semafor, saying that "any reporting about personnel decisions that have not been officially announced by the administration should be regarded as baseless speculation." Both the White House and the US Treasury Department were reached for comment.
President Trump initially announced plans for an AI czar and an AI Force in a Sept. 19 post on Truth Social, though specific details regarding the initiative's duties were not provided. Trump previously appointed David Sacks to serve as AI and crypto czar. Sacks stepped down from the role earlier this year after hitting his service limit as a special government employee, though he remains an advisor to the president through the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
