David Sacks’ time as America’s AI and crypto czar is officially over.
The Silicon Valley investor confirmed the news in a Bloomberg interview on Thursday.
His 130-day stint as a special government employee has run its course. Federal rules cap how long someone in that role can serve, and Sacks hit the limit.
So what now?
He’s moving to co-chair the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, known as PCAST. His co-chair will be Michael Kratsios, a senior White House technology adviser who served in both Trump administrations.
From the Oval Office to an Advisory Board
As AI czar, Sacks had a direct line to President Trump. He helped shape actual policy. He had real power.
PCAST is different. It’s a federal advisory body. It studies issues. It writes reports. It sends recommendations up the chain. But it doesn’t make policy.
That said, Sacks framed the move as an expansion of his role.
He told Bloomberg he can now weigh in on more than just AI – covering semiconductors, quantum computing, nuclear power, and more.
The Most Star-Studded Advisory Board in History?
Sacks wasn’t shy about talking up the new PCAST lineup. He called it “the most star power of any group like this” ever assembled.
And honestly, it’s hard to argue with the roster:
| Member | Role / Company |
|---|---|
| Jensen Huang | CEO, Nvidia |
| Mark Zuckerberg | CEO, Meta |
| Larry Ellison | Co-founder, Oracle |
| Sergey Brin | Co-founder, Google |
| Marc Andreessen | Co-founder, Andreessen Horowitz |
| Lisa Su | CEO, AMD |
| Michael Dell | Founder, Dell Technologies |
| Fred Ehrsam | Early Coinbase backer |
That’s a lot of billionaires in one room.
And they’ll all be advising the president on the technologies their own companies build. Make of that what you will.
What Will PCAST Actually Work On?
Sacks said the council will focus on several major areas:
- Artificial intelligence – including pushing Trump’s new national AI framework
- Advanced semiconductors – the chips powering everything from phones to data centers
- Quantum computing – the next frontier in processing power
- Nuclear power – increasingly seen as key to fueling AI’s massive energy demands
The immediate priority is replacing what Sacks called a mess of conflicting state regulations around AI.
He told Bloomberg that 50 states regulating AI in 50 different ways creates a patchwork that’s nearly impossible for companies to follow.
The Elephant in the Room: Those Iran Comments
Here’s where things get interesting. Sacks didn’t directly address why his transition is happening right now.
But the timing raises questions.
Earlier this month, Sacks made waves on the “All In” podcast – the popular show he co-hosts.
He publicly urged the administration to find an exit from the U.S.-backed conflict with Iran. He walked through a series of escalating scenarios. Attacks on oil infrastructure.
The destruction of desalination plants that provide water for roughly 100 million people. Even the possibility of nuclear escalation.
His exact words? He said it was “a good time to declare victory and get out.”
Trump responded by telling reporters that Sacks hadn’t spoken to him about the war.
When Bloomberg asked Sacks about the podcast episode on Thursday, he stepped back quickly. He said he’s “not on the foreign policy team or the national security team.” His comments, he said, were personal, not official.
Did those comments speed up his departure from the czar role? Nobody’s saying so publicly. But the timeline is worth noting.
Has PCAST Ever Actually Mattered?
That depends on who’s in the White House. Here’s a quick history:
| Administration | PCAST Track Record |
|---|---|
| Obama | Most productive version on record — 36 reports over 8 years; at least 2 led to real policy changes, including over-the-counter hearing aid rules |
| Trump (1st term) | Took nearly 3 years to name members; produced a few reports; made no real mark |
| Biden | Heavy on academics (Nobel laureates, MacArthur fellows); modest output before the term ended |
| Trump (2nd term) | Packed with tech CEOs; focused on AI framework and industry priorities |
The pattern is clear. PCAST’s influence depends entirely on how much the president listens. Some versions mattered. Others collected dust.
This new version is unlike any before it. Instead of academics and researchers, it’s built almost entirely from the executive suites of the companies shaping the technology it will advise on.
The Ethics Questions That Haven’t Gone Away
There’s another layer to this story.
During his time as AI czar, Sacks obtained ethics waivers that let him keep financial stakes in AI and crypto companies, even while he shaped federal policy in both areas.
That arrangement drew sharp criticism from ethics experts and lawmakers. Now that he’s back in the private sector as a partner at Craft Ventures – the firm he co-founded – those questions about conflicts of interest haven’t disappeared. They’ve just changed form.
As a PCAST co-chair, Sacks will be recommending policy on technologies that directly affect his investments. So will most of the other members on the council. It’s a setup that’s sure to keep watchdog groups busy.
What Comes Next for AI Policy?
With Sacks out of the czar seat, Trump’s AI policy enters a new chapter. The national AI framework Sacks helped develop just launched last week. Now it needs someone to push it forward day to day.
PCAST can advise. But who will actually drive implementation?
That’s the open question. And for now, nobody in Washington has answered it.
One thing is certain, though. David Sacks may have left the kitchen. But he’s still very much at the table.
