Jay Clayton leaves door open to blocking AI model releases over legal violations

Jay Clayton said federal investigations could stop AI companies from releasing new models if they break the law.

The director of national intelligence appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box after the first meeting of the White House superintelligence task force, which he chairs.

Host Becky Quick asked Clayton whether the FTC subpoenas sent to OpenAI and Anthropic could lead to the agency blocking the companies from releasing new models.

"The short answer to your question, Becky, is yes, absolutely," he said Friday, but stopped short of explaining what would justify a block.

"If there are unfair practices, that would fall under the FTC," he said. "If there are, frankly, violations of criminal law, that would fall under the DOJ. We are going to enforce them vigorously."

"President Trump has instructed that they be enforced vigorously," he added.

Clayton also said the task force's first meeting set up three committees that will handle AI incident reporting, law enforcement coordination, and protecting critical infrastructure. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson was selected to lead the enforcement committee.

The group also asked the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to study AI risks and will coordinate with the Labor Department to get a better idea of how the technology is affecting the job market and economy.

"We do believe that superintelligence will enhance the American worker, will make more opportunities for the American worker," Clayton said. "But this is something that the American people want us to focus on and report to them on."