The US Justice Department creates a Super Intelligence Task Force to fight AI misuse

The announcement and its basis

On Nov. 5, the US Justice Department announced its Super Intelligence Task Force, or DOJ-SITF. Press release 26-1319 says Attorney General Todd Blanche established it through an Oct. 13 memorandum sent to all department components and US attorneys. The basis is Executive Order 14434, “Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence,” which President Donald Trump signed on Sept. 29 and which created the Super Intelligence Force. According to ExecutiveGov, that force is chaired by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton.

“Super intelligence” here is the administration’s preferred terminology. Executive Order 14434 requires federal agencies to say “Super Intelligence” and “SI” instead of “artificial intelligence” and “AI.” The label does not describe a technical capability threshold.

Mandate and members

The press release says the task force will keep America’s leadership in the field from being compromised by foreign states, state-sponsored actors, transnational criminal organizations and individuals or companies engaged in fraud. The memo adds one more duty: to take “affirmative measures, as appropriate, to promote American SI dominance.”

The memo lists six tasks. Three of them are organizing the department’s criminal and civil work involving AI, deconflicting matters among components and US attorneys’ offices, and recommending enforcement priorities. The task force will also act as the main contact with the Super Intelligence Force, absorb January’s AI task force and develop prosecution guidance. It advises as well on legislative proposals that support innovation “without burdensome regulation.”

The co-chairs are Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward and Associate Deputy Attorney General Stephen Weiss. The Antitrust Division, the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, the Civil Division, the Criminal Division, the FBI, the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the National Security Division and the Office of the Solicitor General each send a representative.

January’s task force and the notification process

A footnote says the Artificial Intelligence Task Force that Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Jan. 9, 2026 is merged into DOJ-SITF, with its matters, work product, personnel details and reporting obligations transferring over. According to CBS News, that earlier group was set up to challenge state AI laws at odds with federal policy, under a Trump executive order from December 2025.

One detail appears only in the memo: the notification process. When the task force asks, components and US attorneys’ offices are to notify it when they open an AI-related investigation and before they seek charges or finalize a resolution. The memo says the process should not delay action, is not required in exigent circumstances such as an imminent threat to public safety, and creates no right enforceable in court.

What officials said

Blanche said American innovators would continue to power development and that the task force will facilitate the department’s partnership with Clayton. Weiss said the department also has a responsibility to “deter improper use,” to “harden regular reporting on SI risk and response,” and to “ensure companies exercise vigorous internal controls.” Woodward said the effort will both promote innovation and prevent misuse.