The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday, Nov. 5, the formation of a Super Intelligence Task Force to coordinate criminal and civil enforcement involving artificial intelligence, the department said. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward and Associate Deputy Attorney General Stephen Weiss will lead the group, according to the announcement.
Related: 3 Charged in $129 Million Scheme That Used AI to Mimic CEOs; Massachusetts Fund Among Victims.
What the task force will do
The unit will seek to prevent the misuse of advanced AI by foreign state and state-sponsored actors, transnational criminal organizations and individual or corporate fraudsters, the department said. An Oct. 13 memorandum released with the announcement lists its duties.
The memo said the task force will organize the department’s criminal and civil enforcement efforts involving the technology. It will also deconflict investigations among department components and U.S. attorneys’ offices, recommend enforcement priorities and develop guidance on prosecuting unlawful conduct.
The memo said the task force will advise on legislative or regulatory proposals “that promote SI innovation without burdensome regulation.” It also said the group will “take affirmative measures, as appropriate, to promote American SI dominance.” The Register reported that the memo did not explain what those measures would include.
How it is organized
The memo said the task force will include representatives from the Antitrust, Civil, Criminal, National Security and National Fraud Enforcement divisions. The FBI, the Office of the Solicitor General and the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee will also be represented, the memo said. Components and U.S. attorneys’ offices should notify the task force, at its request, before seeking charges in matters involving the technology, the memo said.
The new unit absorbs the Artificial Intelligence Task Force announced Jan. 9 under then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, the memo said. Government Executive described that earlier body as an AI litigation task force.
The task force will also serve as the department’s main point of contact with the White House’s Super Intelligence Force, according to Government Executive. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton leads that group, which coordinates the government’s engagement with AI companies, Government Executive reported.
What officials said
“The Department of Justice will continue identifying and prosecuting individuals whose use of SI violates the law,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said in the announcement. Weiss said the department wants to “ensure companies exercise vigorous internal controls so that SI technology behaves as intended.”
Woodward said the effort would “promote innovation and prevent the misuse of Super Intelligence.”
Why the term is ‘super intelligence’
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in late September directing agencies to use the term “super intelligence” for artificial intelligence, Government Executive reported. The memo cites Executive Order 14434, dated Sept. 29. Government Executive noted that the term already had a separate definition, describing an intellect far exceeding human cognitive performance.
What happens next
Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s chief technology officer, spoke at a Wall Street Journal technology conference, The Register reported. He said the team would release details about its AI regulatory landscape later this month, according to The Register. For more coverage, see AI news and Artificial Intelligence.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice: Department of Justice Launches Super Intelligence Task Force
- U.S. Department of Justice: Memorandum establishing the task force, Oct. 13, 2026
- Government Executive: Justice Department creates new task force to police AI misuse
- The Register: DoJ’s ‘Super Intelligence Task Force’ up and running
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