Sriram Krishnan is stepping down from his position as White House AI advisor, according to reports. The move comes as he prepares to launch a new institution focused on advancing artificial intelligence policy under the Trump administration.
Krishnan, who previously worked at Andreessen Horowitz and served in advisory capacities at OpenAI and other tech firms, joined the White House to help formulate the administration's AI strategy. His departure marks a shift in how the Trump team approaches AI governance as the sector faces mounting regulatory pressure and competitive concerns with China.
The new institution Krishnan is establishing will operate outside the White House but maintain influence over policy direction. This structure allows him to work more flexibly while continuing to shape the administration's AI agenda. The move reflects a broader trend of policy advisors leveraging their government experience to launch independent organizations that retain insider access.
Krishnan's exit comes at a pivotal moment for AI policy. The Trump administration has positioned itself as pro-innovation and skeptical of heavy-handed regulation, contrasting sharply with the Biden approach. Krishnan's new venture will likely push for policies that favor American AI development and competitiveness while addressing national security concerns around semiconductor access and model development.
His departure also suggests tension between different factions within the Trump team on how aggressively to pursue AI regulation versus maintaining the industry's momentum. The creation of an external institution gives Krishnan more autonomy to navigate these debates while maintaining closer ties to industry players like Andreessen Horowitz and other venture investors who have backed AI startups.
The move underscores how Silicon Valley figures continue embedding themselves in policy-making, whether through formal government roles or parallel institutions that wield substantial influence over regulatory direction.