The “Architects of AI” have been named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence. The announcement on Thursday underscored 2025 as the year when AI’s transformative potential became unmistakably clear, with no possibility of retreat.
“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,” Time declared in a social media post. This decision highlights the individuals behind AI’s development rather than the technology itself, a choice that reflects the magazine’s historical approach to recognizing influential forces.
Historical Context and Selection Criteria
Time’s editor-in-chief, Sam Jacobs, explained the decision, noting that the magazine has previously named not just individuals but also groups and occasionally concepts. “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,” Jacobs wrote. The selection of the personal computer over Steve Jobs in 1982 remains a notable example of Time’s editorial choices.
The cover images for this year’s announcement are symbolic. One resembles the iconic “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” photograph from the 1930s, featuring eight tech leaders: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, AMD CEO Lisa Su, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google’s DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li. Another cover depicts scaffolding around the letters “AI,” designed to resemble computer components.
The Wealth and Influence of AI Leaders
Five of the eight individuals named are already billionaires, with a combined fortune of $870 billion, according to Forbes. This wealth has largely been amassed during the recent surge of interest in AI, highlighting the economic impact of the technology’s rapid adoption.
Thomas Husson, principal analyst at Forrester, remarked on the timing of AI’s recognition. “It made sense for Time to anoint AI because 2025 was the year that it 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,'” Husson stated via email.
AI’s Growing Prominence and Concerns
The magazine also noted the presence of AI company CEOs at President Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this year, signaling the sector’s rising prominence. “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.
Despite the accolades, some experts have voiced concerns about the rapid development of AI. Anthony Aguirre, executive director of the Future of Life Institute, warned, “Leading AI companies are working feverishly to replace humans in every facet of life, and they’re not being shy about it. The impact on our society could be catastrophic if there are no guardrails protecting what’s human, and most important to us.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of AI
AI was a leading contender for Time’s top recognition, alongside individuals like Jensen Huang and Sam Altman. Other contenders included Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, and political figures such as Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
Following his re-election, Trump was named Time’s Person of the Year for 2024, succeeding Taylor Swift, who held the title in 2023. The magazine, acquired by Marc Benioff in 2018, continues to influence public discourse. Benioff, co-founder of Salesforce, has described AI as “probably the most important” technological wave of his lifetime, though he maintains he does not interfere with Time’s editorial decisions.
Since 1927, Time’s annual selection has recognized individuals or entities that have significantly influenced the news. As AI continues to reshape industries and societies, the recognition of its architects underscores the profound impact these technologies are expected to have in the coming years.
