The “Architects of AI” have been named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the history of artificial intelligence. The magazine’s announcement on Thursday highlighted 2025 as the year when AI’s potential “roared into view” with irreversible momentum.
“For delivering the age of thinking machines, for wowing and worrying humanity, for transforming the present and transcending the possible, the Architects of AI are TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year,” stated Time in a social media post. This decision underscores the profound impact AI has had on society, both in terms of technological advancement and ethical considerations.
The Selection Process and Historical Context
Time Magazine’s choice to honor the individuals behind AI, rather than the technology itself, reflects a deliberate decision to recognize the human ingenuity driving these innovations. As Sam Jacobs, the editor-in-chief, explained, “We’ve named not just individuals but also groups, more women than our founders could have imagined (though still not enough), and, on rare occasions, a concept: the endangered Earth, in 1988, or the personal computer, in 1982.”
The magazine’s history of selecting influential figures dates back to 1927, when editors began choosing the person who most shaped the headlines over the past year. This year’s selection continues that tradition, highlighting AI’s transition from a niche technology to a mainstream force.
Iconic Imagery and Influential Figures
One of the magazine’s cover images, reminiscent of the iconic “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” photograph from the 1930s, features eight prominent tech leaders sitting on a beam. These leaders include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, AMD CEO Lisa Su, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li.
Another cover image depicts scaffolding around the giant letters “AI,” symbolizing the intricate and expansive nature of the technology. The collective wealth of five of these individuals—Musk, Zuckerberg, Huang, Altman, and Su—is estimated at $870 billion, according to Forbes, much of which has been amassed during the recent AI boom.
AI’s Mainstream Integration and Future Implications
According to Thomas Husson, principal analyst at Forrester, Time’s decision to honor AI aligns with 2025 being the year AI shifted from “a novel technology explored by early adopters to one where a critical mass of consumers see it as part of their mainstream lives.”
AI’s prominence was further underscored by the attendance of AI company CEOs at President Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this year, signaling the sector’s growing influence. “This was the year when artificial intelligence’s full potential roared into view, and when it became clear that there will be no turning back or opting out,” Jacobs wrote.
Expert Opinions and Ethical Concerns
While AI’s advancements are celebrated, experts like Anthony Aguirre, executive director of the Future of Life Institute, urge caution. “Leading AI companies are working feverishly to replace humans in every facet of life, and they’re not being shy about it,” Aguirre warned. “The impact on our society could be catastrophic if there are no guardrails protecting what’s human, and most important to us.”
AI was a leading contender for Time’s top honor, alongside individuals like Jensen Huang and Sam Altman. Other contenders included Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, and political figures like Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.
Looking Ahead: AI’s Role in Shaping the Future
Following his re-election, Trump was named Time’s 2024 Person of the Year, succeeding Taylor Swift, who held the title in 2023. The magazine, acquired by Marc Benioff in 2018, continues to influence public discourse, with Benioff describing AI as “probably the most important” technological wave of his lifetime.
As AI continues to evolve, its role in shaping global society will remain a topic of intense debate and scrutiny. The “Architects of AI” stand at the forefront of this transformation, embodying both the promise and the peril of a rapidly advancing technological era.
