President-elect Trump has appointed David Sacks, a former PayPal executive, to serve as his White House artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency czar. As the administration’s expert in these areas, Sacks will focus on guiding policy to make America the clear global leader in both artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. President Trump stated that Sacks will also prioritize “safeguarding” free speech online and away from “Big Tech bias and censorship.”
In this key role, Sacks will establish a legal framework for the cryptocurrency industry, which is seeking clarity in order to thrive in the U.S. He will also head the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology.
Sacks has an extensive background in the technology sector, having served as chief operating officer of PayPal, and later becoming CEO of Yammer, an enterprise software company that was acquired by Microsoft for over $1 billion in 2012. He has also made angel investments in prominent companies such as Facebook, Uber, SpaceX, Airbnb, and Palantir through his Craft Ventures fund.