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Bessent emerges as frontrunner for Trump's new AI czar post

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Bessent emerges as frontrunner for Trump's new AI czar post

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is emerging as a frontrunner for President Donald Trump's new "AI czar" position, according to three sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Semafor. Trump's decision on his AI point person is not final, and the report notes he is known to ultimately favor dark-horse candidates. Bessent has already been playing a central role in the administration's AI policy: this week he held an early dialogue with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, ahead of Trump's own meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Bessent and He discussed a potential US-China "notification mechanism" meant to facilitate communication about AI incidents that pose national-security threats, as part of what Bessent described as talks toward a formal US-China dialogue on AI. If Bessent were ultimately picked, holding a Cabinet post would not be a barrier to also serving as AI czar; Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has simultaneously held the "energy czar" title. White House spokesman Kush Desai pushed back on the reporting, saying "any reporting about personnel decisions that have not been officially announced by the administration should be regarded as baseless speculation." The Treasury Department did not return a request for comment. Bessent became a more active participant in AI policymaking earlier this year after financial institutions told him that advanced AI systems could make their systems vulnerable, as Semafor has previously reported. Speaking to CNBC this week, Bessent said of the AI czar idea: "I think it is to put context, shape and contours around these questions, and they're very important," adding that he believes humans are ultimately responsible for what AI does. Other names reportedly in the mix for the czar role include White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, a longtime Trump ally on tech, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, who left venture firm a16z to join the government. The article also notes that Bessent and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross, another name mentioned as a possible AI czar, clashed over Anthropic's Mythos model in May, as Politico had reported.

Key facts

  • Three sources told Semafor that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is a frontrunner for Trump's planned "AI czar" position, but Trump's final decision has not been made.
  • Bessent this week held talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on a possible US-China "notification mechanism" for AI incidents that threaten national security, ahead of Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping.
  • White House spokesman Kush Desai called the reporting "baseless speculation" since no personnel decision has been officially announced; the Treasury Department did not return a request for comment.
  • Other candidates reportedly considered for the role include OSTP Director Michael Kratsios, OPM Director Scott Kupor (formerly of a16z), and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross.
  • Bessent became more active in AI policy after financial institutions warned him this year that advanced AI systems could make their systems vulnerable; he and Cairncross reportedly clashed over Anthropic's Mythos model in May.

Why it matters

An "AI czar" role would centralize White House influence over AI policy, and a Treasury Secretary in that seat would tie financial-sector oversight of AI risk directly to national AI strategy, including how the US handles AI-related national-security communication with China.

Who it affects

The decision matters to federal agencies competing for authority over AI policy (Treasury, OSTP, OPM, the National Cyber Director's office), to the financial sector that has already flagged AI-driven vulnerabilities to Bessent, and to the US-China diplomatic track on AI safety communication.

How to use it

There is no product or service here; the practical takeaway for readers tracking US AI policy is to watch for an official White House announcement rather than treat this reporting as confirmed, since the administration has explicitly disputed it.

How solid is it

The account rests on three anonymous sources cited by Semafor plus on-record quotes from Bessent (to CNBC) and White House spokesman Kush Desai, who explicitly called the report speculation; the Treasury Department declined to comment, and Trump has not made a final decision.

Risks and caveats

This is unconfirmed personnel speculation with an official denial on record; the source itself cautions that Trump tends to favor dark-horse candidates, so Bessent's frontrunner status, and the identities of the other named contenders, could easily change before any announcement.

“When President Trump talked about appointing an AI czar, I think it is to put context, shape and contours around these questions, and they're very important”

— Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, to CNBC