Who is Sriram Krishnan? Indian-origin Trump AI adviser backed by Musk set to leave role

Sriram Krishnan, the Indian-American technology executive serving as Senior White House Policy Adviser on Artificial Intelligence, is set to leave his position at the end of June 2026 after an 18-month tenure in the Trump administration.Krishnani is a former Silicon Valley venture capitalist and product leader at companies including Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, and Yahoo. He was appointed in early 2025 as part of US President Donald Trump’s push to build a national artificial intelligence strategy. He played a central role in designing the administration’s AI policy framework, including efforts to streamline federal adoption of AI systems and develop a unified national approach to regulation.His appointment drew political attention from the beginning. He received backlash from parts of the MAGA movement over his background as an India-born tech executive and concerns about immigration and the influence of Silicon Valley in government decision-making. Despite this, he received strong backing from prominent technology leaders, including Elon Musk, who supported his inclusion in the administration’s AI policy team.During his time in office, Krishnan worked closely with senior White House officials to advance the administration’s AI agenda. He was involved in drafting policy initiatives aimed at improving US competitiveness in AI, including regulatory reforms and proposals to reduce fragmented state-level AI laws. He also contributed to broader strategy discussions focused on national security, innovation, and global competition in AI development.Officials credited him with helping shape what became a more centralized federal approach to AI governance. His work included participation in international engagements and policy discussions designed to strengthen the US’ position in the global AI race, particularly against China.Krishnan’s departure comes at a time when the US government is continuing to expand its involvement in artificial intelligence policy, including cybersecurity testing frameworks for advanced AI systems and increased coordination with private technology companies.In public statements, Krishnan described his time in the White House as “the privilege of a lifetime” and said he plans to continue working on major AI-related challenges outside government.He was born in Chennai, India, in 1984 and later moved to US, where he built his career in the tech industry before becoming a venture capitalist at Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s most influential investment firms.





