USA (Commonwealth Union)_ Indian American entrepreneur and technology leader Sriram Krishnan has been appointed as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The announcement was made on December 22 by President-elect Donald J. Trump, marking a significant step in his administration’s efforts to bolster American leadership in the rapidly evolving field of AI. Accordingly, Trump on his Truth Social, revealed the appointment news, stating, “Sriram Krishnan will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in AI and help shape and coordinate AI policy across the government, including working with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.”
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Krishnan, who is a native of Chennai, India, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity, sharing his gratitude in a post on X. “I’m honored to be able to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI, working closely with David Sacks. Thank you, @realDonaldTrump, for this opportunity,” he wrote. Krishnan’s career trajectory is one of remarkable success and global influence. Hailing from a middle-income Tamil family, he developed a keen interest in technology during his childhood in the late 1990s. With limited access to the internet, he taught himself coding, setting the stage for his future in the tech industry. He pursued a degree in Information Technology from SRM Engineering College, Anna University, graduating in 2005, before moving to the United States at the age of 21.
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Krishnan’s professional journey began at Microsoft, where he joined the company in 2005. As a founding member of the Windows Azure team, Krishnan quickly made his mark in the tech world. His career continued to flourish as he led product teams at industry giants like Twitter, Yahoo!, Facebook (now Meta), and Snap. At Facebook, he was instrumental in developing the Facebook Audience Network, a competitor to Google’s advertising technology. Similarly, at Twitter, he spearheaded innovations that drove significant user growth.
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Krishnan’s strong connections within the tech world also include his work alongside billionaire Elon Musk. In 2022, Krishnan collaborated with Musk during Twitter’s acquisition and subsequent revamp, contributing strategic insights that helped shape the platform’s transformation into X. Additionally, his advocacy for leveraging technology to solve challenges between AI-driven models, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and large internet platforms has made him a key figure in the ongoing dialogue around the regulation and evolution of artificial intelligence. In 2021, Krishnan took on a new role as a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s most influential venture capital firms. He focussed on making investments in emerging technologies like Web3 and AI. By 2023, he had relocated to London to lead the firm’s office there. However, Krishnan left Andreessen Horowitz in November 2023 to focus on his new role in public service.
Sanjeev Joshipura, the Executive Director of Indiaspora, congratulated Krishnan on his new position, calling it a well-deserved recognition of his expertise and influence in the AI space. “We heartily congratulate Sriram Krishnan and are delighted that he has been appointed by President-elect Donald Trump as Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy,” said Joshipura. “For several years, Sriram has been an insightful thinker and influential commentator in the artificial intelligence realm. His previous work blending public policy, international affairs, investing, and technology will stand him in good stead as he serves the nation in this important role.”
Joshipura also expressed Indiaspora’s interest in collaborating with Krishnan on AI initiatives, stating, “As Indiaspora continues our convening and thought leadership work on AI in the United States and abroad, we look forward to engaging closely with Sriram.” Moreover, Krishnan’s appointment was seen as a major development for the future of AI policy in the United States. As Senior Policy Advisor, he will work closely with David Sacks, a prominent tech entrepreneur and policy advocate, to shape AI strategies for the Trump administration.
Furthermore, Krishnan, along with his wife, Aarthi Ramamurthy, also gained recognition in 2021 as the host of ‘The Aarthi and Sriram Show’ (formerly known as ‘The Good Time Show’), a podcast that covers a wide range of topics, including technology, entrepreneurship, and public policy. As Krishnan steps into this pivotal role, all eyes will be on his efforts to ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation as he collaborates with key policymakers and industry leaders to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the coming years.
