US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is reportedly being considered as the frontrunner for President Donald Trump’s next artificial intelligence czar position. Three sources familiar with the matter told Semafor that Bessent leads the shortlist, which also includes White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross. The potential appointment follows Trump’s September 19 announcement on Truth Social regarding plans for an “AI Force” amid growing concerns about technology risks.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai dismissed the reports as baseless speculation, stating that personnel decisions not officially announced by the administration should be regarded as such. This development comes after David Sacks, who previously served as Trump’s AI and crypto czar, left the role earlier this year due to service limits as a special government employee. Sacks continues to advise the president through the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
The reported consideration of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for the AI czar role signals a potential consolidation of financial and technological policy oversight under a single senior official. If confirmed, this move would place significant regulatory influence over both traditional finance and emerging digital assets within the purview of one individual, potentially streamlining interagency coordination but also concentrating power in a manner that may draw scrutiny from market participants and policymakers concerned about checks and balances.
Institutional investors and crypto firms will likely monitor how this appointment affects the pace and direction of federal AI regulation, particularly given the recent departure of David Sacks and the administration’s stated intent to form an “AI Force.” The lack of detailed public information about the new role’s scope creates uncertainty regarding whether it will prioritize innovation incentives or risk mitigation, a distinction that could materially impact compliance costs and strategic planning for entities operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and financial services.
