Time Magazine has named "the architects" of artificial intelligence (AI) as its Person of the Year for 2025, an acknowledgment of the collective influence rather than a single individual. This decision underscores the accelerating impact of AI and the companies driving its development across society.
The recognition coincides with a notable expansion in AI technology, initiated by OpenAI's introduction of 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 significant financial resources towards AI development and its underlying infrastructure.
Time Magazine's covers feature several prominent figures in the AI sector. These include Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Meta head Mark Zuckerberg, X owner Elon Musk, and AI researcher Fei-Fei Li. Other leaders depicted are Lisa Su (CEO of AMD), Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic), Sir Demis Hassabis (head of Google's AI lab), and Sam Altman.
According to Time, the year 2025 marked a shift from discussions about responsible AI application to its rapid deployment. Editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs highlighted the substantial impact of those who conceptualized, designed, and built AI, emphasizing humanity's role in shaping the technology's future trajectory.
Forrester analyst Thomas Husson suggested that 2025 represents a critical juncture for AI's integration into daily routines, often without users' explicit awareness. He observed that AI's embedding into hardware, software, and services has resulted in a faster adoption rate compared to previous technological advancements like the internet or mobile revolutions.
Nik Kairinos, founder and CEO of Fountech AI, described the magazine's recognition as an accurate reflection of AI's influence. However, he also stressed the considerable responsibility held by developers in creating AI systems that are dependable, accountable, and aligned with human values, acknowledging the technology's dual potential for societal benefit and challenge.