Updated Sep 17, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Exclusive: White House AI adviser targets market share in race with China

April Rubin

Two men seated in white chairs on a stage with multiple "AXIOS" logos on a blue background. The man on left wears a dark suit, red tie; the man on right wears light blue shirt, holds "AXIOS" paper. — White House artificial intelligence adviser Sriram Krishnan is interviewed by Axios' Dan Primack on Sept. 17. Photo: Axios

The U.S. needs a "metric for winning" in its artificial intelligence race with China, White House AI adviser Sriram Krishnan said at Axios' AI+ Summit on Wednesday.

Why it matters: Krishnan, who advises President Trump on artificial intelligence policy, said he measures American success via market share with its rival.

Krishnan told Axios' Dan Primack that he views the race as a "business strategy."

State of play: Trump said in July the U.S. will do "whatever it takes" to lead the world in AI.

Earlier this month, Office of Science and Technology Policy director Michael Kratsios told Axios that the government was trying to remove as much red tape as possible from the AI development process.

The latest: Krishnan said the White House's executive order that would make "woke" AI ineligible for federal funding is focused on "truth-seeking."

Krishnan said the goal is to create transparency in models' sourcing.
"Don't put a thumb on the scale," he said. "We don't want either left or right ideology."

The intrigue: The White House's AI adviser said he's not sure whether the president uses AI.

"But I'm sure Barron does," Krishnan said, referring to Trump's youngest son.

Go deeper: Most Americans don't want AI doing everything

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting throughout.

Add Axios on Google

Exclusive: White House AI adviser targets market share in race with China

What to read next