Trump taps Sriram Krishnan for AI advisor role amid strategic shift in tech policy

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Sriram Krishnan, a seasoned entrepreneur and former Andreessen Horowitz partner, as the Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Krishnan’s appointment signals a renewed focus on maintaining US leadership in AI innovation, alongside a push to reshape how AI interacts with industries and digital infrastructure.

Krishnan, who has built a diverse career across social media, venture capital, and AI advocacy, is set to work closely with Trump’s crypto and AI “czar” David Sacks. His views on decentralization, AI ethics, and data-sharing practices — articulated in his earlier comments — offer insights into what might shape US policy on these transformative technologies.

“Sriram Krishnan will serve as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy,” Trump wrote in a post on X.  “Working closely with David Sacks, Sriram will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in AI, and help shape and coordinate AI policy across Government, including working with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.”

David Sacks congratulated Krishnan saying “It was a lot of fun to work with you during the Twitter Transition, and I look forward to doing it again in President Trump’s administration.”

Shaping AI policies for strategic advantage

This responsibility comes at a critical moment, as enterprises grapple with both the opportunities and challenges posed by generative AI, regulatory landscapes, and ethical concerns.

Krishnan’s previously expressed views, particularly in his New York Times op-ed last year, emphasize the importance of redefining relationships between platforms and AI models. He has called for “a fundamentally different mechanism” for platforms to exchange value with AI assistants, arguing that the current model undermines innovation and fairness in the data ecosystem.

“Otherwise, expect more raised drawbridges and more user protests,” Krishnan wrote in the op-ed in the context that “large internet sites are fighting back against AI models with the internet equivalent of raising the castle drawbridge.”

His approach aligns with Trump’s second-term emphasis on reinvigorating US dominance in emerging technologies. The policy Krishnan helps craft could significantly impact enterprises — particularly those in tech, media, and manufacturing — as they navigate AI integration into their operations.

A voice on AI and decentralization

Krishnan has been a vocal advocate for decentralization in technology, describing it as a mechanism to empower users and break away from the control of centralized platforms. In his op-ed, he warned that AI has forced platforms like Reddit and Stack Overflow to raise “digital drawbridges” against unchecked exploitation by AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This shift, he argues, has sparked protests and ushered in a new age of technological conflict.

While decentralization offers promise for neutrality and user empowerment, Krishnan has cautioned about the risks of chaos if systems aren’t carefully managed.

His stance could heavily influence how enterprises approach collaboration with AI vendors and the development of decentralized models in future projects.

Enterprise implications: Navigating AI in a changing landscape

The appointment of a tech-savvy leader like Krishnan reflects the Trump administration’s recognition of AI as a critical element for global competitiveness. For enterprises, this could bring regulatory clarity or, conversely, added scrutiny in areas such as data sharing, intellectual property, and the ethical use of AI.

Krishnan’s emphasis on platforms forming “content alliances” and exploring legal or technical solutions for data-sharing disputes highlights the growing complexity of operating in an AI-driven economy. Businesses across industries must adapt to policies that will likely incentivize innovation while introducing stringent accountability measures.

Krishnan’s appointment as a senior AI advisor signals a transformative shift in US tech policy under Trump’s administration. With his focus on AI ethics, decentralization, and user rights, Krishnan’s influence could shape not just governmental frameworks but also how enterprises evolve their AI strategies in a competitive, rapidly changing market.

Enterprises and policymakers alike should prepare for what Krishnan aptly described in the op-ed as “one heck of a ride.”