David Sacks is done as AI czar — here’s what he’s doing instead

David Sacks’ tenure as Donald Trump’s AI and crypto czar has concluded.

Speaking with Bloomberg on Thursday, the seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and podcaster disclosed that his 130-day, non-consecutive role as a special government employee has ended. He is transitioning to co-chair the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) alongside senior White House technology adviser Michael Kratsios. 

“I think moving forward as co-chair of PCAST, I can now make recommendations on not just AI but an expanded range of technology topics,” he explained in a video interview with Bloomberg. “So yes, this is how I’ll be involved moving forward.”

Practically speaking, this move distances Sacks from Washington’s power center compared to his earlier role during the second Trump administration. As AI czar, Sacks had direct access to Trump and influenced policy-making. PCAST, however, is a federal advisory body that researches issues, creates reports, and sends recommendations up the chain without making policy decisions.

The council, which has existed in various forms since the era of FDR, is described by Sacks as having “the most star power of any group like this” ever assembled. The initial 15 members include prominent figures such as Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Marc Andreessen, AMD’s Lisa Su, and Michael Dell, among others. 

That’s a significant number of billionaires.

Sacks informed Bloomberg that the council will address topics such as AI, advanced semiconductors, quantum computing, and nuclear power. In the near term, efforts will focus on advancing Trump’s recently released national AI framework. Sacks described the framework as a solution to the “patchwork of regulation” caused by 50 states each regulating in their own way, which complicates compliance for innovators. 

Sacks did not directly address why the transition is occurring now or if his recent remarks played a role. Earlier this month, on his popular “All In” podcast, Sacks called for a diplomatic exit from the U.S.-backed war with Iran, outlining potential escalating scenarios. Trump responded by stating that Sacks hadn’t consulted him about the war. 

When questioned by Bloomberg on Thursday, Sacks expressed, “I’m not on the foreign policy team or the national security team,” and clarified that his podcast comments were his personal views, not official ones.

Despite the high-profile members Sacks is bringing to PCAST, it’s important to remember the council’s historical role as an advisory body with varying degrees of influence across different administrations. 

Under President Obama, the council was notably productive, producing 36 reports over eight years and achieving policy changes, including an FDA rule for over-the-counter hearing aids. President Trump’s first-term council took nearly three years to appoint its first members and made little impact, while President Biden’s council, comprising mainly academics, released a modest number of reports before the administration concluded. 

Today’s PCAST is markedly different, largely composed of leaders from companies shaping the technology landscape it advises on.

Now, Sacks is returning to his roots as an investor and entrepreneur. A spokeswoman for Craft Ventures, the firm he co-founded and where he remains a partner, has yet to comment on related inquiries. Last year, JS reported on the ethics waivers Sacks obtained to retain financial interests in AI and crypto companies while influencing federal policy in these areas, a move criticized by ethics experts and lawmakers.