US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence.
Krishnan, a venture capitalist and author, will work closely with David O. Sacks, the White House AI & Crypto Czar, to ensure continued American leadership in AI.
Krishnan’s impressive background includes leading product teams at Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo!, Facebook, and Snap. He started his career at Microsoft as a founding member of Windows Azure.
As Senior Policy Advisor, Krishnan will focus on shaping and coordinating AI policy across the government, including working with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Krishnan expressed his honor in serving the country, stating, “I’m honored to be able to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI working closely with David Sacks.”
The Indian American community has welcomed Krishnan’s appointment, with Indiaspora’s executive director Sanjeev Joshipura congratulating him on his new role.
“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 serve him well in this important role,” Joshipura said.
This appointment comes as Trump continues to assemble his team, including recent announcements such as Elon Musk’s role in leading the Department of Government Efficiency.
Who is Sriram Krishnan?
Sriram Krishnan is an accomplished Indian-American tech expert, has been making waves in the industry with his impressive credentials and achievements with Twitter and Elon Musk. Born in India, Krishnan studied at Anna University in Chennai before embarking on a career in technology and investing.
Krishnan’s professional journey is marked by his tenure as a Twitter employee from 2017 to 2019. He has also worked with other prominent tech companies such as serving as an investor and partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16Z), a venture capital firm.
With his new appointment as a Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence, he is tasked with shaping and coordinating AI policy across the government, working closely with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
How Elon Musk has influenced American politics
Elon Musk has undoubtedly become a significant force in US politics, particularly with his fervent support for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid.
His influence extends beyond traditional campaign donations, encompassing active promotion, policy shaping, and personal attacks on political opponents.
Musk’s financial backing of Trump is substantial, with a staggering $75 million donation to the “America Pac,” a pro-Trump political action committee.
This significant financial commitment underscores his willingness to use his immense resources to influence the election’s outcome ¹.
As the owner of X (formerly Twitter), Musk has also become a vocal Trump surrogate, utilizing his platform to amplify Trump’s messages and attack his opponents.
With over 200 million users on X, Musk’s influence on public discourse and voting behaviour is considerable ¹.
Commentary
- How successful will Musk be with the proposed “Department of Government Efficiency” led by him, with the aim to audit federal agencies and reduce their size?
- Isn’t this some sort of conflict of interest that should raise concerns, given Musk’s own businesses’ history of regulatory battles.
- Musk’s level of involvement is unparalleled, combining his immense wealth, social media platform, and technological expertise to become a powerful force in the 2024 election.
