David Sacks, who previously oversaw cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence policy in the White House, has taken on a significant new role as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). With this transition, Sacks now holds a key position in one of the administration’s most influential advisory bodies for science and technology policy.
A New Era for Presidential Science Advising
Sacks made headlines in recent months as an advisor to former President Donald Trump, shaping both cryptocurrency and AI policy. One of his major contributions was steering the passage of the GENIUS Act, known for its efforts to regulate stablecoins, as well as playing an active role in the controversial market structure legislation for the crypto industry. Sacks emphasized that the new council includes established leaders in science and technology, with the primary mission to develop actionable policy recommendations for the President and the White House across innovation, science, and tech sectors.
PCAST was introduced as the principal external advisory body influencing the White House and President on science, technology, and innovation matters. The initial lineup features thirteen prominent figures drawn from a wide array of fields worldwide.
Sacks’s previous assignment as “head of crypto and AI” was only a temporary government appointment under US law, which sets strict time limits for such roles. It was noted that, last autumn, some Democratic members of Congress raised concerns, arguing that Sacks had exceeded his permitted tenure in the position.
Technology Industry Leaders Join the Council
The newly formed council boasts some of the most influential figures from both Silicon Valley and the cryptocurrency sector. Among those announced as inaugural members are Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz; Sergey Brin, Google’s co-founder; Michael Dell, founder of Dell Technologies; Fred Ehrsam, an early investor in Coinbase; Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA; Lisa Su, CEO of AMD; and Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta. This lineup reflects the council’s intent to combine diverse expertise from across the digital economy.
Michael Kratsios, who previously held leadership roles during the Trump administration, will also co-chair the council alongside Sacks. The pairing unites two experienced figures with deep roots in technological and innovation policy.
Recently, Sacks outlined in an interview that the council’s initial focus will include preparing policy recommendations on frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy. He also indicated that a new AI policy framework released by the White House last week will be front and center on the council’s upcoming agenda.
Sacks underscored their intention to advance the AI framework, revealing that the council will soon introduce public recommendations in this area, and will also pursue initiatives on a broad spectrum of strategic technology topics.
The formation of the new council marks a pivotal step in structuring the national dialogue around advanced technology. By bringing together high-profile leaders from the worlds of computing, digital finance, and scientific research, the administration hopes to address pressing challenges and create a roadmap for future innovation-driven policies.
Observers expect that with such a high-caliber group, PCAST will play an influential role in shaping how the United States navigates emerging technologies, their regulatory environments, and their impact on national competitiveness. The inclusion of several figures directly involved in building today’s tech giants signals a commitment to aligning policy with real-world industry expertise.
