The Department of Justice has established a new unit called the DOJ Super Intelligence Task Force, or DOJ-SITF, to prevent American artificial intelligence technology from being compromised by foreign governments, state-sponsored groups, transnational criminal organizations, and individuals or companies involved in fraud. The announcement, made on November 5, 2026, places the task force under the leadership of Stanley Woodward and Stephen Weiss, both of whom report to Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The creation of the DOJ Super Intelligence Task Force marks the administration’s latest move to formalize its approach to advanced intelligence technologies, which President Trump has rebranded as “super intelligence.” The unit is intended to work alongside Jay Clayton, identified in the announcement as chair of SI Force, to keep critical super intelligence technologies serving the American public and out of the hands of malicious actors domestically and internationally.
Leadership and Mandate
According to the Justice Department’s announcement, Woodward and Weiss will oversee efforts to counter threats from foreign states, state-sponsored actors, transnational criminal organizations, and fraudsters operating in the AI space. Attorney General Blanche framed the task force as a partnership with the private sector, stating that American innovators will continue to drive super intelligence development and that the department will help ensure those technologies are not manipulated.
The announcement comes as the administration pushes the “super intelligence” label despite widespread use of the term “artificial intelligence” across the globe. President Trump is said to have become frustrated when The Wall Street Journal did not immediately adopt his preferred terminology, and he has since said he is banning the term “artificial intelligence.” Most publications have declined to follow suit, citing the needless confusion the change would create.
Political and Corporate Crosscurrents
The task force’s launch also lands in a complicated political environment for major technology companies. Several prominent tech CEOs have taken steps to align with the administration—Google has adopted other presidential naming preferences, former Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly gave Trump a gold statue, and Meta ended its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and dropped third-party fact-checking shortly after the election. Those same companies have also donated heavily to a ballroom project that has drawn public attention.
Whether these companies will embrace the “super intelligence” terminology or continue using “artificial intelligence” remains uncertain, particularly as newly elected Democratic majorities are expected to investigate corporate conduct over the past two years. Cozying up to the president now could prove awkward for companies that still rely on federal contracts but may soon face heightened scrutiny from lawmakers.
The DOJ Super Intelligence Task Force represents a concrete step in the administration’s effort to shape both the language and the legal framework around advanced AI, even as the private sector and the public continue to sort out what the new unit will mean in practice.
