White House AI adviser Sriram Krishnan steps down as Trump eyes tech stakes

White House AI policy adviser Sriram Krishnan announced on June 21 that he will leave his position at the end of the month. In a post on X, Krishnan described his tenure as 'the privilege of a lifetime' and stated his intention to help tackle 'large challenges facing America' related to artificial intelligence. His departure comes as President Trump considers the possibility of the U.S. government acquiring stakes in AI companies, framing it as a 'partnership with the American public.' Krishnan has played a key role in shaping the Trump administration’s approach to AI regulation, including efforts to establish a national framework for managing frontier technologies. His exit raises questions about the continuity of AI policy under the current administration, especially as Trump plans to meet with AI executives as soon as next week. The Trump administration’s stance on AI has been marked by contradictions, particularly regarding national security concerns. Earlier this year, the Pentagon blacklisted Anthropic after the company refused to allow the U.S. military to use its AI models for domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems. Tensions eased after a White House meeting with Anthropic’s CEO, which followed a Tuesday executive order requiring leading AI developers to voluntarily submit their most advanced models for government cybersecurity testing before public release. Some officials in Trump’s orbit have warned that AI poses political risks, particularly due to proposals for new data centers that have faced public backlash. During his State of the Union address in February, Trump directed big tech companies to build their own power plants to support AI infrastructure. Tech CEOs later agreed to explore new electricity generation and efficiency measures in response. Despite these developments, the administration’s approach to AI remains fluid, balancing economic opportunities with security and regulatory challenges. Krishnan’s departure may signal a shift in focus, but the broader debate over AI governance—including government involvement in the sector—is expected to continue under Trump’s leadership.