Trump Taps Sriram Krishnan as White House AI Policy Advisor

• Donald Trump appoints Sriram Krishnan as senior artificial intelligence policy advisor.
• Krishnan brings deep tech expertise from a16z and Microsoft to the role.
• He will work with David Sacks on coordinated AI and crypto policy efforts in the White House.

Donald Trump has appointed Indian-American entrepreneur and venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Krishnan recently resigned from his position as general partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and brings technical expertise and industry experience to the role.

Krishnan’s career started at Microsoft. He was a founding member of the Windows Azure team. That is where his early involvement in cloud computing infrastructure that now underpins many AI applications began. The appointment places Krishnan in close collaboration with David Sacks, who was recently named as the administration’s crypto and AI czar.

This pairing suggests a coordinated approach to technology policy, combining Sacks’ broader oversight with Krishnan’s deep technical background. Together, they will work to frame and coordinate AI policy across government agencies. This includes direct involvement with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

In announcing the appointment, Trump emphasized the importance of maintaining American technological leadership. The selection of Krishnan, known for his close ties to tech industry leaders including Elon Musk, who co-leads Trump’s department of government efficiency, indicates a strategy of bringing Silicon Valley expertise into government policy-making. Krishnan responded to the appointment with enthusiasm, stating on X, “I’m honored to be able to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI working closely with David Sacks.”  

The appointment comes at a crucial time for AI policy development as nations compete for dominance in artificial intelligence capabilities. The selection of Krishnan also represents continuation of Trump’s strategy of incorporating experienced technology industry leaders into his administration.

His background at Microsoft and subsequent work at a16z provides him with insights into both the technical foundations and future directions of AI technology. The collaboration between Krishnan and Sacks is expected to create synergies between AI development and other technological initiatives, including cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.