Two Indian-origin innovators have earned a place in TIME’s prestigious Person of the Year issue, which spotlights the “Architects of AI” shaping the direction of one of the most transformative technologies of the century. Their inclusion reflects the growing influence of Indian-origin leadership in the global AI landscape, as Karandeep Anand and Sriram Krishnan help shape both the consumer experience of AI and the policies guiding its future.
Karandeep Anand: Steering the AI agents reshaping digital life
Karandeep Anand, CEO of Character.AI, leads one of the world’s most popular AI companion platforms, attracting around 20 million active users, many of them Gen Z, who interact with AI agents for up to 80 minutes a day. Character.AI allows people to create and converse with personalised AI characters that can role-play, assist with studies, brainstorm ideas, or offer emotional support. The platform blends entertainment and utility, redefining how young people socialise, learn, and express themselves in an increasingly AI-driven digital environment.Before joining Character.AI, Anand held major roles across top global tech firms. He spent 15 years at Microsoft contributing to Azure’s growth, served as vice president at Meta, overseeing Marketplace Ads, Payments and enterprise tools, and later became president and chief product officer at Brex. A graduate of the International Institute of Information Technology, Anand is now focused on advancing multimodal AI, improving long-term memory features and strengthening safety filters on the platform. His leadership places him at the centre of the cultural and behavioural shifts powered by the rise of AI companions.
Sriram Krishnan: Shaping America’s AI strategy in a high-stakes global race
While Karandeep Anand reshapes consumer AI, Sriram Krishnan plays a central role in guiding the geopolitical and policy dimensions of artificial intelligence. As Senior White House Policy Adviser on AI in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, he has become one of the most influential voices behind the United States’ accelerationist AI agenda. Krishnan is a key contributor to the American AI Action Plan, a strategy designed to strengthen US leadership and counter China in the rapidly escalating AI race.Krishnan’s presence in TIME’s list also reflects his extensive experience across Silicon Valley. He scaled mobile advertising at Facebook, led product work at Snap and Twitter, and later advised Elon Musk during the restructuring of X. He also headed the London office of Andreessen Horowitz, deepening his global perspective on innovation and markets. Known for advocating faster AI development, reduced regulatory barriers and greater private-sector involvement, Krishnan gained further prominence after China’s DeepSeek breakthrough in 2025, which triggered a major shift in US policy. TIME portrays him as a strategist operating at the heart of one of the most significant technology competitions of the century.
A global moment for Indian-origin leadership in AI
Together, Anand and Krishnan reflect two very different yet closely connected sides of the AI story. Anand is influencing how millions experience AI in their day-to-day lives, while Krishnan is helping shape the policies that guide America’s approach to a fast-changing technological landscape. Their presence in TIME’s Person of the Year list highlights the growing impact of Indian-origin leaders at a moment when AI is transforming industries, economies and global power dynamics. Go to Source
