Scott Bessent Leads Race for AI Czar, Michael Kratsios and Scott Kupor Also in Running
| Source: Techmeme | Original article
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is emerging as a frontrunner for President Donald Trump's new AI czar, with WH OSTP Director Michael Kratsios and OPM Director Scott Kupor also in the running.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is now being tipped as the leading candidate to become President Donald Trump’s first “AI czar,” a senior role that would steer the administration’s strategy on artificial‑intelligence development, deployment and regulation. The report, sourced to insiders familiar with White House deliberations, places Bessent ahead of other possible appointees, including White House Office of Science and Technology Policy director Michael Kratsios and Office of Personnel Management chief Scott Kupor.
The emergence of a frontrunner signals that the Trump administration is moving from speculation to concrete staffing for a portfolio that has become a flashpoint for both industry and policymakers. An AI czar would likely coordinate federal research funding, shape export‑control rules, and serve as the public face of U.S. AI policy at a time when rivals are accelerating their own initiatives and domestic firms are navigating mounting antitrust scrutiny. The appointment could also influence how the administration responds to recent legal challenges targeting major AI developers for alleged collusion on development speed.
Watchers should monitor an official nomination in the coming weeks, followed by Senate confirmation hearings that could reveal the administration’s priorities—whether they lean toward fostering rapid innovation, tightening safety oversight, or leveraging AI for national‑security objectives. The composition of the AI czar’s team and the timing of any policy directives will be key indicators of how the United States intends to position itself in the rapidly evolving global AI landscape. As we reported on 23 September 2026, Bessent was already in the mix; today he appears to have edged ahead of his competitors.
Sources
Back to AIPULSEN