White House AI chief Sacks to shift into advisory role

WASHINGTON: The White House’s artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency lead, David Sacks, is stepping down from his current post and will transition into an advisory position.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Sacks said his tenure as a special government employee had reached its limit, prompting his departure from the role. Under US regulations, individuals in such positions can serve a maximum of 130 working days within a 12-month period.

He will now join President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, a body comprising experts from industry and academia. As co-chair, Sacks said he expects to contribute to a wider spectrum of technology policy issues, extending beyond artificial intelligence.

Sacks has been a prominent figure in the administration of Donald Trump since the start of his second term. A veteran of Silicon Valley, he co-founded the venture capital firm Craft Ventures in 2017 and has remained active in the tech investment space.

Earlier this month, Sacks drew attention for urging Washington to wind down its involvement in the Iran conflict, saying the United States should “declare victory and get out”, a relatively uncommon stance among senior figures in the administration.

Appointed to the AI role in December 2024, Sacks oversaw policy shifts including a relaxation of restrictions, originally imposed during the Joe Biden administration, on the export of advanced AI chips to China.

Despite stepping aside from his formal duties, Sacks said he would continue to support the administration’s artificial intelligence strategy unveiled last week.