TIME Magazine Names “Architects of AI” as 2025 Person of the Year
On December 11, 2025, TIME Magazine announced its selection for Person of the Year: the “Architects of AI.” This group includes prominent figures like Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Mark Zuckerberg, who have significantly impacted our world in varied and sometimes unsettling ways.
Alongside Musk and Altman, the list features Jensen Huang (Nvidia), Lisa Su (AMD), Demis Hassabis (DeepMind), Dario Amodei (Anthropic), and Fei-Fei Li (Stanford HAI). TIME described these leaders as pioneers of the era of intelligent machines, reshaping societal dynamics much like previous technological revolutions, such as the nuclear era.
Notably, this year saw significant progress and infrastructure developments in artificial intelligence, particularly as the U.S. aims to outpace China in this new age.
“2025 was the year when artificial intelligence’s full potential roared into view, and when it became clear that there will be no turning back,” TIME stated in a social media post. The magazine emphasized that these leaders played a critical role in both exciting and alarming humanity through their innovations.
The cover art for the “Person of the Year” edition features illustrations of the eight AI leaders and pays homage to the iconic 1932 photograph “Lunch atop a Skyscraper.” Another cover image displays scaffolding surrounding components arranged to form the letters “A” and “I.”
TIME’s editor-in-chief, Sam Jacobs, discussed their decision, noting that they recognized not only individuals but also groups, including more women than ever before—though still not enough—and even concepts like the endangered Earth. He stated, “This year, no one had a greater impact than the individuals who imagined, designed, and built AI.”
Interestingly, while the “Architects of AI” took the honor, AI itself was a leading candidate throughout the selection process. Had AI won, it would have marked only the third instance a nonhuman received this title, following the personal computer in 1982 and the “Endangered Earth” in 1988.
Despite the recognition, a recent poll from Yahoo/YouGov revealed a more cautious perspective on AI among the American public, with 53% expressing concern that it might ultimately threaten humanity. This ongoing debate reflects deeper worries about how rapidly AI is integrated into daily life.
Anthony Aguirre, executive director of the Future of Life Institute, cautioned against the potential risks: “Leading AI companies are working feverishly to replace humans in every facet of life.” He warned that the societal impact could be disastrous without proper protections in place.
The choice of the “Architects of AI” follows a year where TIME celebrated President Donald Trump as the Person of the Year 2024, acknowledging his political resurgence and return to the White House.
