Bessent Emerges as Frontrunner for Trump's AI Czar Role

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is the leading candidate for a newly created 'AI czar' role in the Trump White House, Semafor reported, citing three sources.

Also in the mix: Michael Kratsios, who runs the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Scott Kupor, the Office of Personnel Management director who came out of a16z; and Sean Cairncross, the National Cyber Director.

Bessent has already been running point on AI inside the administration. This week at the UN General Assembly he met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, ahead of a scheduled Trump-Xi meeting, and the two discussed a potential US-China 'notification mechanism' to facilitate communication about AI incidents that pose threats to national security.

On CNBC, Bessent described the role in procedural terms. '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,' he said.

The White House is not confirming anything. 'Any reporting about personnel decisions that have not been officially announced by the administration should be regarded as baseless speculation,' spokesman Kush Desai said. Semafor notes there is precedent for dual portfolios: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum also serves as the administration's 'energy czar.'