President Donald Trump on Wednesday appointed prominent industry figures including Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, Nvidia head Jensen Huang, and Oracle chairman Larry Ellison to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
The White House confirmed the initial 13-member group will advise on artificial intelligence policy as the administration seeks to accelerate private-sector innovation and reduce regulatory barriers. Zuckerberg told The Wall Street Journal that the United States “has the opportunity to lead the world in AI” and he is “honored to join the President’s council and work with other industry leaders to help make this happen.”
The council will be co-chaired by David Sacks, the White House AI and crypto czar, alongside technology adviser Michael Kratsios. While previous iterations of the body featured higher proportions of technical scientists, this version focuses heavily on corporate leaders such as Google co-founder Sergey Brin and AMD chief executive Lisa Su.
Nvidia issued a statement noting it is “delighted” by the appointment of Huang, which the company views as an “opportunity to advance American leadership in AI.” The selection follows reports from Politico that Huang has met regularly with the president to discuss lifting restrictions on the sale of AI chips to China.
Michael Dell, founder of Dell Technologies, also joined the panel and stated he looks forward to working with the council to “advance policies that strengthen American competitiveness and national security.” According to White House officials, the body could eventually expand to include 24 members to address the challenges emerging technologies present to the domestic workforce.
The appointments represent a shift from the president’s first term, which The Wall Street Journal noted was characterised by corporate boycotts and resignations. Under the current administration, tech firms have already pledged trillions of dollars in spending as the government frames AI as a central arena of strategic competition.
The White House said in a statement that the council will focus on ensuring all citizens thrive in a “Golden Age of Innovation.” This announcement follows a recent federal framework designed to encourage Congress to pass legislation that would prevent individual states from regulating the AI sector.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems chief executive Bob Mumgaard was also named to the group. The company said his inclusion serves as a signal of government support for the fusion energy industry.
