The field of technology policy in the United States is undergoing significant adjustments. Recently, Michael Kratsios, a researcher at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (Stanford HAI), was appointed as the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, while also serving as the incoming President's Science Advisor for the Trump administration. This appointment has garnered widespread attention, marking an increasing influence of top AI researchers on national technology policy in the U.S.
Trump Reinstates Former Officials, Restructures Tech Team
In addition to Michael Kratsios, Trump has appointed another veteran, Lynne Parker, as the Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Both are senior officials from his first administration, and they will work alongside the previously appointed "AI and Cryptocurrency Czar" David Sacks and other tech figures focused on AI and cryptocurrency at the White House. In his announcement, Trump stated that they will work together to achieve scientific breakthroughs, ensure America's technological leadership, and usher in a golden age of American innovation.
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, image licensed by Midjourney
It is reported that after taking office, Kratsios will serve as the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, providing counsel to the "Czar." Parker will advise Kratsios, and the council will be chaired by the "Czar." Previously, Parker served as the Deputy Chief Technology Officer during the Trump administration and was the founding director of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office. Additionally, Sriram Krishnan, a general partner at a16z, has been appointed as the Senior Policy Advisor for AI at the OSTP, while Scott Kupor, managing partner at a16z, has been appointed as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management. Notably, it has been reported that since the election, Marc Andreessen has spent most of his time at Mar-a-Lago, highlighting the close relationship between Trump and a16z.
Michael Kratsios: The Driving Force Behind America's AI Strategy
Michael Kratsios is not only a U.S. business executive and former senior government official but also the Managing Director of Scale AI. Previously, he served as the fourth Chief Technology Officer of the United States at the White House, where he led the development and execution of the national technology policy agenda. Under his leadership, the White House realigned the direction of U.S. national technology policy to ensure America's leadership in emerging technologies.
In 2020, he spearheaded the design of the United States' first artificial intelligence strategy—the AI Initiative. This plan directly doubled federal funding for AI and quantum research and established the world's first regulatory principles for AI development. He also led the U.S. in creating the first intergovernmental AI policy guidelines at the OECD and oversaw the implementation of landmark legislation such as the National AI Initiative Act and the National Quantum Initiative Act. These acts facilitated the establishment of the National AI Initiative Office and the National Quantum Coordination Office at the White House and spearheaded the creation of a billion-dollar national network of AI and quantum research institutions.
Before entering the White House, Michael served as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, managing the largest R&D budget of any single organization in the world and overseeing all research, engineering, development, and prototyping at the Pentagon. He supervised DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Innovation Unit, the Space Development Agency, and the Department of Defense laboratory enterprise.
Michael Kratsios's exceptional contributions have been widely recognized, receiving unanimous confirmation from the U.S. Senate and being awarded the Department of Defense's highest civilian honor—the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. He was also named one of Fortune's "40 Under 40," becoming a dual exemplar in both politics and technology. Notably, he was born in South Carolina, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University, and was a visiting scholar at Tsinghua University.
This series of personnel appointments indicates that the Trump administration is actively promoting technological innovation and intends to dominate emerging technology fields such as AI. It is worth closely monitoring how U.S. technology policy will evolve in the future and what impact these appointments will have on the global technology landscape.
Reference: Politico
