DOJ sets up Super Intelligence Task Force to combat AI misuse

The U.S. Department of Justice is establishing a task force to combat misuse of advanced artificial intelligence. The department announced the Super Intelligence Task Force, known as DOJ-SITF, on Thursday. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward and Associate Deputy Attorney General Stephen Weiss will lead the task force.

The task force's stated mission is to protect American leadership in super intelligence against misuse by foreign governments, proxies, transnational criminal organizations, companies and individuals. The mission includes addressing fraud and other crimes committed using AI. The department cited President Donald Trump's view that America is leading a new technological revolution in intelligence.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said American innovators would continue driving super intelligence development. Blanche said the task force would cooperate with SI Force Chair Jay Clayton to protect critical AI technologies against manipulation domestically and abroad. Blanche said the DOJ would continue identifying and prosecuting people who use super intelligence unlawfully. Blanche said those efforts include addressing malicious attacks on American taxpayers, critical U.S. infrastructure and other national security interests.

Weiss said the department also has a responsibility to strengthen regular reporting about super intelligence risks and responses. Weiss said the department must ensure companies use rigorous internal controls so that super intelligence technology operates as intended. The comments signal that the DOJ wants AI developers to strengthen safeguards against unintended model behavior.

Super intelligence generally describes hypothetical AI whose capabilities exceed human abilities in every area. Federal officials' adoption of the term represents stronger language about the technology. Former SEC chair Jay Clayton has been linked to the Trump administration's broader super intelligence initiative. The SEC recently included super intelligence among the agency's examination priorities for 2027.

Trump signed an executive order that sets up a confrontation with states over AI regulation. Earlier this week, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the banking regulator's first AI framework. Banks are confronting rogue AI agents accessing customer accounts.

The DOJ provided neither a timeline nor details about how the task force would coordinate with other agencies. The department said the task force's work would encourage innovation while preventing technological misuse.