Washington, D.C., USA: Two technology leaders of Indian heritage have been recognised by TIME magazine in its special feature on the “Architects of AI,” celebrating individuals shaping the future of artificial intelligence worldwide. The list includes Karandeep Anand, CEO of Character.AI, and Sriram Krishnan, a senior AI policy adviser to the White House.
According to TIME, both figures represent different but equally critical dimensions of the AI revolution. While Anand focuses on building consumer-facing AI products, Krishnan plays a key role in defining national AI strategy and regulation in the United States.
Karandeep Anand heads Character.AI, a widely used AI chatbot platform that allows people to design and interact with customised virtual characters for purposes such as education, entertainment, roleplay, and digital companionship. By 2025, the platform had attracted nearly 20 million monthly users, most of them from Generation Z.
Despite its rapid growth and popularity, Character.AI has also faced scrutiny, including legal challenges and debates surrounding online safety for teenagers. Nevertheless, the platform remains a major force in the AI-driven social technology space.
Anand is an alumnus of the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He brings decades of experience to his role, having previously worked for 15 years at Microsoft and six years at Facebook.
Sharing the TIME spotlight is Sriram Krishnan, who has gained recognition for his influence in shaping AI governance rather than building products. Currently serving as Senior White House Policy Adviser on AI in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Krishnan has become a prominent advocate for the United States’ rapid AI advancement strategy.
He played a central role in designing the American AI Action Plan, which aims to strengthen U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence and respond to China’s growing capabilities in the field.
Before joining the White House, Krishnan held leadership roles across both government and industry. He served as a General Partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and earlier worked in senior product and business positions at Meta, X, and Microsoft.
Krishnan’s profile rose further following China’s major AI breakthrough in 2025, known as DeepSeek, which prompted a major shift in U.S. AI policy and intensified technological competition between the two global powers.
