Indian-American Sriram Krishnan joins White House as AI policy chief

Washington: President-elect Donald Trump has named Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as the Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing his administration's commitment to advancing technology and innovation.

The announcement was made on Sunday as Trump introduced a series of key appointments to strengthen America’s leadership in AI. According to the statement, Krishnan will work within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, focusing on shaping and coordinating AI strategies across the government.

Krishnan, a renowned venture capitalist and tech leader, brings extensive experience from his roles with major tech companies such as Twitter, Microsoft, Facebook, Yahoo!, and Snap. In his new position, he will collaborate with David Sacks, who has been named the White House AI & Crypto Czar, to ensure a cohesive policy framework.

Trump highlighted Krishnan's contributions to the tech industry, noting that he began his career as a founding member of Microsoft’s Windows Azure team and has since emerged as a pivotal figure in technology policy. The President-elect also emphasized Krishnan's role in maintaining the United States’ leadership in AI innovation.

Reacting to the announcement, Krishnan expressed his gratitude on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that he is honored to serve the country and contribute to shaping its AI future in collaboration with Sacks.

The Indian-American community has applauded Krishnan’s appointment, recognizing his accomplishments in technology and leadership.

Born in Chennai, India, Krishnan moved to the United States after completing his education. In addition to being a seasoned tech expert, he is a venture capitalist, author, and podcaster. Alongside his wife, Aarthi Ramamurthy, he co-hosted 'The Aarthi and Sriram Show', a podcast on startups and entrepreneurship that gained significant popularity.

Krishnan joined Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) as a general partner in February 2021, later leading its London office. He exited the firm in November this year. In 2022, he collaborated with Elon Musk on restructuring Twitter following Musk’s acquisition of the platform. He also facilitated Musk’s reconnection with former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson after Johnson’s nomination to head the proposed Department of Government Efficiency.

Krishnan’s appointment underscores his expertise in AI and positions him as a key player in shaping the future of technology policy in the United States.

With IANS inputs