Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has emerged as the leading candidate to serve as the Trump administration's "AI czar," a newly created position to coordinate artificial intelligence policy across the federal government. US online media outlet Semafor reported the development on September 22, citing people familiar with the matter.
Trump's decision has not reached a final stage, and given his well-documented preference for dark-horse picks, other candidates could still be tapped for the role. Should Bessent be appointed, serving concurrently in a Cabinet position is institutionally permissible. There is precedent: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum also serves as the administration's energy policy czar.
Bessent has been at the center of AI policy within the administration. This week, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to discuss the possibility of establishing a mutual notification system for AI-related security incidents, ahead of a potential meeting between Trump and President Xi Jinping. Bessent has framed the talks as part of an effort to institutionalize a "formal US-China AI dialogue."
The Treasury Secretary's deepening involvement in AI policy stems in part from warnings issued by financial institutions. According to Semafor, after financial firms signaled earlier this year that advanced AI systems could introduce vulnerabilities into their own infrastructure, Bessent became more actively engaged in AI policymaking.
Earlier this week, in an interview with CNBC, Bessent commented on Trump's announcement of an AI czar appointment, saying, "I think it's to give context and shape and contour to these issues. It's an extremely important issue." He added that ultimate responsibility for what AI does rests with humans.
Other Candidates
Other names have surfaced for the AI czar post. Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, has long supported Trump on technology policy. Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, is also among the candidates. Kupor joined the administration after leaving venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z).
Background
On September 19, Trump announced on his social media platform plans to create an "AI Force" to monitor malicious uses of AI, and said he would name a leader for the effort soon. The administration has positioned AI as a critical policy priority on both national security and economic competitiveness fronts, with particular focus on technological competition with China.
If Bessent is appointed, it would represent an unusual arrangement combining the roles of Treasury Secretary and AI czar. As the intersection of financial market regulation and AI policy expands, consolidating Treasury authority with AI policy coordination could strengthen oversight of financial institutions' AI usage and bolster momentum on AI-related China policy. However, some have raised concerns about balancing the demands of the Treasury post with AI responsibilities, as well as questions regarding specialized AI expertise.
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