Sriram Krishnan, a towering figure in the tech world at 6 feet 6 inches, has become one of the most influential Indian-Americans in global politics today. As the White House policy adviser on Artificial Intelligence, Krishnan stands at the forefront of America’s strategy to outpace China in what many describe as the 21st century’s AI arms race.
Krishnan, 41, firmly believes that artificial intelligence will determine which nation leads the global order in the coming decades. “If the US doesn’t win the AI race with China, the consequences could be catastrophic,” he said in a recent podcast. His conviction has made him one of the most pivotal voices shaping Washington’s AI agenda.
Since joining the Trump administration, Krishnan has played a key role in promoting US AI technologies across the globe. At the Paris AI Summit earlier this year, he urged countries to “buy American AI or get left behind,” reinforcing America’s ambition to dominate the industry. His influence was also evident during Trump’s multi-billion-dollar chip deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE—agreements criticized by some for potential security risks but defended by Krishnan as victories for US innovation and economic strength.
Before his political ascent, Krishnan was already a celebrated tech evangelist and entrepreneur. Alongside his wife, Aarthi Ramamurthy, he co-hosts the popular podcast The Aarthi and Sriram Show, which has featured icons like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Marc Andreessen. The Chennai-born technologist, an alumnus of SRM Institute of Science and Technology, built his career through leadership roles at Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook, and Snap before becoming one of Silicon Valley’s most influential voices.
Interestingly, Krishnan’s name once surfaced as a potential Twitter CEO during Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition. Admiring Musk’s risk-taking approach, he said, “His ability to simplify and push boundaries is unmatched.”
Despite his proximity to the Trump administration, Krishnan diverges from hardline policies on immigration. He has openly criticized Green Card quotas, advocating for a merit-based global system that welcomes top talent—an idea that hasn’t sat well with some of Trump’s supporters.
Together, Krishnan and Ramamurthy represent the new face of Indian-American influence—a blend of entrepreneurship, innovation, and policymaking. As Krishnan continues to steer the US toward AI supremacy, he remains focused on one mission: ensuring that the future of artificial intelligence is powered—and led—by America.
