Justice Department Announces Super Intelligence Task Force

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new task force to organize criminal and civil enforcement involving “Super Intelligence,” coordinating investigations across federal prosecutors and department offices.

DOJ announced the Super Intelligence Task Force on Nov. 5. The Attorney General’s memorandum establishing it is dated Oct. 13. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. and Associate Deputy Attorney General Stephen Weiss will co-chair the group.

The task force will organize enforcement work across DOJ, coordinate investigations among department components and U.S. attorneys’ offices, recommend priorities and develop guidance on prosecutions and compliance measures. Its remit includes potential misuse by foreign state and state-sponsored actors, transnational criminal organizations, and individuals or companies involved in fraud or other unlawful conduct. The group may also take steps to promote U.S. leadership in Super Intelligence.

If requested, DOJ components and U.S. attorneys’ offices should alert the task force before opening an SI-related investigation, seeking charges or finalizing a resolution. The process is not meant to delay action. Notification is unnecessary in urgent circumstances, including imminent threats to public safety or risks of losing evidence.

The DOJ task force will serve as the department’s main contact with the White House’s separate Super Intelligence Force, chaired by Jay Clayton, and with other agencies. The memorandum also folds the group that former Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in January into the new task force. That earlier group will stop operating separately, with its work product, personnel details and reporting obligations transferred to the new task force.

“SI development will continue to be powered by American innovators,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said. Woodward said the effort would “promote innovation and prevent the misuse of Super Intelligence.”

President Donald Trump’s Sept. 29 Executive Order 14434 directs executive agencies to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in covered documents. It uses the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence in 15 U.S.C. § 9401(3) for SI and directs the White House science adviser to submit proposed federal definitional language within 60 days. The DOJ memorandum sets out internal coordination steps but does not specify a company-facing reporting schedule or uniform compliance standard.