Bessent may take AI advisory role in Trump administration

Scott Bessent, who heads the US Treasury Department, is being considered for a new role advising the Trump administration on artificial intelligence matters, according to reports circulating in Washington policy circles.

The potential appointment comes as the United States and China engage in strategic discussions over technology development and regulation. AI has emerged as a critical domain of competition between the two nations, with implications for economic dominance and national security.

Bessent's involvement in AI policy would draw on his background in finance and his position at the helm of the Treasury, which oversees financial policy and economic strategy. His appointment would signal the administration's intention to coordinate technology policy across economic and policy frameworks.

The move reflects growing recognition among US policymakers that artificial intelligence requires coordinated government action across multiple departments. The Treasury's role in regulating financial markets and capital flows makes it a significant stakeholder in how AI development is funded and deployed.

No official announcement has been made regarding Bessent's expanded responsibilities or the formal scope of any AI advisory position.