Time Magazine has named "the architects" of artificial intelligence (AI) as its Person of the Year for 2025. This designation recognizes a collective influence rather than a single individual, underscoring the expanding impact of AI and the companies driving its development across society. The magazine's rationale centered on the shift observed in 2025 from discussions about responsible AI application to its rapid deployment and integration into daily life.
Time Magazine's Designation
The selection of "the architects" of AI for 2025 marks an acknowledgment of the collective impact of those involved in the technology's conception, design, and construction. This decision reflects the accelerating influence of AI and the corporations leading its advancement.
Rationale for Selection
Time Editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs stated that in 2025, no individuals had a greater impact than those who imagined, designed, and built AI, emphasizing humanity's role in determining AI's future trajectory. The magazine highlighted that 2025 witnessed a notable shift from theoretical discussions regarding responsible AI use to its rapid practical deployment.
Featured Figures
Time Magazine's covers feature several prominent figures associated with the AI sector:
- Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia
- Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta
- Elon Musk, owner of X
- Fei-Fei Li, an AI researcher and professor
- Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI
- Lisa Su, CEO of AMD
- Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic
- Sir Demis Hassabis, head of Google's AI lab
One cover visually references the "Lunch atop a Skyscraper" photograph, depicting various tech leaders. Another cover portrays the letters "AI" surrounded by workers.
Context of AI Growth and Integration
The recognition follows a period of accelerated growth in AI technology, initiated by the introduction of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reported in September that the chatbot reaches approximately 800 million users weekly. Major technology corporations are allocating substantial financial resources toward AI development and its underlying infrastructure.
Forrester analyst Thomas Husson characterized 2025 as a significant point for AI's integration into daily routines, often occurring without users' explicit awareness. Husson observed that AI is being incorporated into various hardware, software, and services, resulting in a faster adoption rate compared to previous technological advancements such as the internet or mobile revolutions. Examples of AI applications include planning travel, selecting gifts, and discovering recipes.
Industry Perspectives and Considerations
Nik Kairinos, founder and CEO of Fountech AI, described the magazine's recognition as an accurate reflection of AI's influence. He also stressed the responsibility held by developers in creating AI systems that are dependable, accountable, and aligned with human values, noting that such development is still in its early stages.
Concerns regarding AI include its energy consumption, the origin and ethics of training data, and its potential impact on employment. Some individuals have chosen to limit their engagement with AI technologies due to these considerations.