Scott Bessent emerges as leading candidate for Trump AI czar role: Report

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is emerging as a leading candidate for President Donald Trump’s planned AI czar position, according to three people familiar with the matter cited by Semafor.

No appointment has been finalized. White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Semafor that reports about personnel decisions not officially announced by the administration should be treated as speculation.

Bessent has become increasingly involved in the administration’s AI policy and this week discussed artificial intelligence with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The talks included a potential formal dialogue between the US and China on AI and a notification mechanism for incidents involving artificial intelligence that could pose national security risks. Bessent said the two sides plan to continue the discussions.

Bessent has also recently argued that humans and companies should remain responsible for the actions of AI systems, rather than shifting responsibility to the technology itself.

Other people reportedly under consideration for the AI czar position include White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor.

Holding the AI position would not necessarily require Bessent to leave Treasury. Trump has previously assigned cabinet officials additional policy coordination roles alongside their existing positions.

The potential appointment comes as AI takes a larger role in US economic, national security and China policy. Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet at the White House on September 24, with artificial intelligence expected to be among the issues discussed.