Time Magazine Recognizes ‘Architects of AI’ as 2025 Person of the Year
Time Magazine has unveiled its selection for the 2025 Person of the Year, honoring the Architects of AI, a group of eight influential individuals credited with propelling the swift and significant advancements in artificial intelligence.
This annual accolade, initially labeled “Man of the Year,” was first bestowed in 1927, recognizing American aviator Charles Lindbergh for completing the inaugural solo, non-stop transatlantic flight.
The title transitioned to “Person of the Year” in 1999 for greater inclusivity, with then-Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos as the first recipient under this new designation.
Rather than merely reflecting merit or popularity, the Time Person of the Year award is centered around influence, selecting an individual who:
“For better or for worse… has done the most to influence the events of the year.”
Throughout its history, this recognition has encompassed U.S. Presidents and global leaders alike, including figures such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joe Biden, Winston Churchill, and Angela Merkel.
While some recipients are climate figures, others include controversial leaders like Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler.
The title has also been awarded to groups, such as the whistleblowers Cynthia Cooper, Coleen Rowley, and Sherron Watkins in 2002, and philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates, along with Bono in 2005.
Notably, in 1982, “The Computer” was chosen, resulting in debate over the selection of IBM over Apple’s Steve Jobs.
Whether the choice of the Architects of AI will stir controversy remains to be seen.
The individuals featured on the cover of the magazine, from left to right, are:
- Mark Zuckerberg (CEO of Meta)
- Lisa Su (CEO of AMD);
- Elon Musk (Founder of xAI and owner of X/Tesla);
- Jensen Huang (CEO of Nvidia)
- Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI);
- Demis Hassabis (CEO of Google DeepMind);
- Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic);
- Fei-Fei Li (Stanford Professor, frequently referred to as the “godmother of AI”).
The magazine also acknowledged the notable impact of investors such as Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank.
In a creative nod to history, the cover art mirrors the iconic 1932 photograph, “Lunch atop a Skyscraper.”
Time’s Editor-in-Chief, Sam Jacobs, elucidated the rationale behind selecting the Architects of AI: their unparalleled influence has made 2025 the year when AI’s full potential “roared into view,” emphasizing the inevitability of its integration into various facets of life. Jacobs elaborated:
“Whatever the question was, AI was the answer. We observed that it boosts medical research and engenders productivity, making the improbable possible. The rapid strides in this technology and its architects dominated the news cycle, spurring myriad discussions on its disruptive potential.
Business leaders could not talk about the future without referencing the ramifications of this technological revolution, and parents and educators had to reckon with teenagers and students increasingly utilizing it.”
He also cited NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s perspective:
“Every industry needs [AI], every company uses it, and every nation needs to build it. This is the single most impactful technology of our time.”
However, Time acknowledged the accompanying risks:
“This progress comes with trade-offs: the energy consumption necessary for these systems depletes resources. Jobs are vanishing. Misinformation thrives as AI-generated content complicates the discernment of reality. Large-scale cyberattacks could occur sans human oversight.”
The magazine also expressed concerns regarding the economic implications:
“There is an alarming concentration of power among select business magnates, reminiscent of the Gilded Age. Historically, this can breed both monumental advancements and escalating inequality.
AI firms are more intertwined with the global economy than ever before, presenting a monumental gamble, with fears of an impending economic bubble growing.
Former President Trump encapsulated this unease in September by remarking: ‘If something really bad happens, just blame AI.’”
Some critics voiced their discontent regarding the selection process, suggesting that the honor should better reflect those who have truly dedicated their efforts to AI research.
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