Treasury Secretary Bessent in line for Trump's AI czar role

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent could become President Donald Trump’s new AI czar, a source familiar with the discussions said Tuesday, amid growing lawmaker concerns about AI risks. Trump has downplayed such concerns and argued additional regulation is unnecessary. The potential role was first reported by Semafor, and the Treasury had no immediate comment. Trump said Saturday he plans to appoint an AI adviser and create an "AI force," without providing details. Bessent led talks Sunday with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, focusing heavily on AI and proposing a new US-China AI safety notification mechanism. Bessent, a former hedge fund manager, has already taken lead roles in trade policy, Ukraine minerals negotiations, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He also serves as acting IRS commissioner, while his Treasury leads economic sanctions against Iran.