U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is reportedly being considered as the new overarching chief for artificial intelligence in the Trump administration.
Citing sources, Reuters and other media outlets reported that Secretary Bessent is likely to be appointed as the new "AI czar."
On September 19, President Trump announced that he would establish an "AI military" and stated that he would also "soon announce" an "AI czar" to oversee the initiative.
As Secretary Bessent, widely regarded as a close confidant of President Trump, is now even lined up for the AI chief role, some critics are raising concerns that too much power is being concentrated in his hands.
President Trump has already assigned Secretary Bessent to serve as the control tower leading a sweeping overhaul of U.S. trade policy and conducting negotiations regarding Ukraine and critical minerals.
Trump also appointed Secretary Bessent to concurrently serve as the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Ahead of the U.S.-China summit in Washington this week, Secretary Bessent held talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York the day before yesterday.
AI issues were a primary focus of those discussions.
While concerns over the risks posed by artificial intelligence are spreading in Washington political circles, President Trump has repeatedly dismissed such worries and maintained that additional regulations are unnecessary.
The Treasury Department, which did not issue a separate statement when an American online media outlet previously reported on Bessent's potential appointment, has once again declined to comment.
Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Na Hong-hee | Design by Lee Soo-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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