Bessent Budgets AI Czar Role as Next Line Item 💼

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has emerged as the leading candidate to serve as President Donald Trump's next artificial intelligence czar, according to three sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Semafor. The position would expand the administration's AI policy team following Trump's Sept. 19 Truth Social announcement that he intends to create an "AI Force" alongside the czar role. Bessent's potential appointment comes as the technology draws increased scrutiny over its risks and rapid adoption across the financial sector.

Other contenders include White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, a former managing partner of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross. Despite the reported frontrunner status, White House spokesperson Kush Desai pushed back on the disclosure, telling Semafor that "any reporting about personnel decisions that have not been officially announced by the administration should be regarded as baseless speculation." Cointelegraph reached out to both the White House and the US Treasury Department for comment but did not receive a response by publication.

Trump's earlier AI effort was led by David Sacks, who served as AI and crypto czar before stepping down earlier this year after reaching his service limit as a special government employee. Sacks continues to advise the president through the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Trump has not publicly shared operational details for either the AI czar post or the proposed AI Force since his September announcement.

Industry participants continue to monitor the administration's AI agenda for its potential spillover into digital asset markets, where BlackRock has stated that AI's capacity to drive crypto demand remains "underappreciated." The Treasury Department oversees key financial regulators with authority over stablecoin issuers and other crypto-related entities operating in the United States.