Washington: Sriram Krishnan, the Chennai-born technology executive who played a key role in shaping US President Donald Trump's artificial intelligence policies, has announced that he will leave the White House later this month after nearly 18 months in government.

Krishnan, who served as Senior Policy Adviser for Artificial Intelligence, revealed his decision in a post on X, saying he plans to take a short break before focusing on broader AI-related challenges facing the United States.

Krishnan was closely involved in developing the administration's AI strategy, including the much-discussed AI Action Plan that sought to accelerate American leadership in artificial intelligence while reducing regulatory hurdles for the industry.

The initiative also encouraged large-scale investments in infrastructure such as data centres and computing capacity, viewed as critical to maintaining the country's competitiveness in the global AI race.

He was also part of efforts to formulate policies that limited the ability of individual states to introduce their own AI regulations, reflecting the administration's preference for a more unified national framework.

Announcing his exit, Krishnan described his White House tenure as a privilege and credited Trump for prioritising artificial intelligence as a strategic national priority.

"The past 18 months have given me a front row seat to this critical moment on AI facing America and our allies," he wrote, adding that challenges involving energy, data infrastructure and AI adoption remain central to the country's long-term competitiveness.

From Chennai to Silicon Valley

Born in Chennai in 1984, Krishnan graduated with a degree in Information Technology from SRM University before moving to the United States to begin his career at Microsoft.

Over the next two decades, he built a reputation as one of Silicon Valley's most connected technology leaders, holding senior roles at Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter.

He later joined venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz as a general partner, investing in and advising emerging technology companies.

Krishnan is also known for his close ties to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. He was among the advisers who assisted Musk during the acquisition of Twitter in 2022, before the platform was rebranded as X.

Praise from White House allies

Following the announcement, David Sacks, one of the Trump administration's leading technology advisers and Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology, praised Krishnan's contribution to government.

Sacks highlighted Krishnan's blend of technical expertise, policy knowledge and strategic thinking, calling him one of the most effective figures working at the intersection of technology and public policy.

During his tenure, Krishnan frequently pointed to achievements including the AI Action Plan, the National AI Policy Framework and efforts to deepen cooperation with allies on AI development and deployment.

Despite his prominence in technology circles, Krishnan's White House appointment was not without controversy.

Some conservative commentators aligned with Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement criticised his past support for policies aimed at attracting highly skilled foreign talent to the United States.

Among the most vocal critics was right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who argued that some of Krishnan's views on immigration and skilled-worker visas conflicted with the administration's broader political message.

However, Krishnan remained a central figure in the administration's AI strategy and became one of the most recognisable Indian-origin voices influencing US technology policy.

What's next for Sriram Krishnan?

While Krishnan has not revealed specific plans, he indicated that his next chapter will focus on building institutions and initiatives aimed at addressing major AI-related challenges facing America and its allies.

With PTI inputs