Architects of AI Named TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year

TIME Magazine has named the “Architects of AI” as its 2025 Person of the Year. The group includes leading tech CEOs who shaped artificial intelligence in 2025. The announcement came on Thursday in New York. The magazine said this year marked a turning point for AI. The main keyword is Architects of AI.

The two covers of Time magazine’s 2025 Person of the Year issue with an illustration by Peter Crowther (left) depicting Jensen Huang, President and CEO of Nvidia; Elon Musk, xAI; Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic; Lisa Su, CEO of AMD; Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta; Demis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind Technologies; Fei-Fei Li, Co-Director of Stanford University’s Human-Centered AI Institute and CEO of World Labs; and Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, and a painting by Jason Seiler (right) depicting the same people, in this undated handout combination image obtained by Reuters on December 11, 2025. TIME/TIME Person of the Year/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. PLEASE SHOW ALL FOUR CORNERS OF TIME’S RED BORDER AND DO NOT ALTER IT IN ANY WAY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

According to TIME, these leaders pushed AI into daily life at a historic pace. The magazine said the shift brought hope and fear together. It said the group stood out because they built the tools that changed the world. Reuters and AP also reported the announcement.

Architects of AI: Why TIME Chose This Group

TIME chose eight major figures from the tech world. They include Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, and Fei-Fei Li. All played key roles in the rapid rise of AI in 2025.

According to TIME, the group “imagined, designed, and built” the systems powering the new AI age. The magazine noted that this choice focused on people, not the technology itself. It said this year showed AI’s full potential for the first time. It also said there is now “no turning back.”

TIME released two covers for the announcement. One showed the eight leaders sitting on a steel beam like the famous 1930s photo “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper.” Another showed giant “AI” letters under construction. Both covers highlighted the scale of the moment.

Five of the eight recipients are billionaires. Forbes estimates their combined wealth at about 870 billion dollars. Much of that growth came from the AI boom over the past three years. Their influence has reached governments and global markets. According to Reuters, several of them attended President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration.

AI’s Broader Impact and Why It Matters

The rise of AI in 2025 reshaped industries, politics, and daily life. Experts said new AI systems pushed past old limits. They powered new tools for work, health, research, and media. They also raised concerns over safety and fairness.

TIME said these CEOs shaped those debates through their products and public roles. It said the group represents both innovation and risk. This reflects the year’s tension around AI growth. Many workers, companies, and lawmakers struggled to keep up with the pace.

The impact is global. Tech firms saw major gains. Governments rushed to write new rules. Users faced more AI in their phones, cars, and homes. Analysts expect the trend to continue through next year. Many say the choices made in 2025 will shape AI for decades.

Last year’s Person of the Year was Donald Trump for his election win. Taylor Swift held the title in 2023. TIME said its Person of the Year highlights the person or group who most influenced headlines. That tradition dates back to 1927.

The Architects of AI will likely remain at the center of global debate. Their work will drive new tools and new rules. The world will continue to watch how the Architects of AI shape the next chapter.

Info at your fingertips-

Q1: Who are the Architects of AI?

They are eight tech leaders chosen by TIME as the 2025 Person of the Year. They include CEOs from major AI and tech firms. They led key AI advances this year.

Q2: Why did TIME select this group?

TIME said they built the systems that pushed AI into daily life. The magazine said their work defined 2025. Their impact reached the global economy.

Q3: What makes 2025 important for AI?

TIME said this year showed AI’s full potential. New systems grew fast and changed many industries. Reuters also noted a major jump in AI investment.

Q4: How wealthy are the AI leaders?

Five of the eight are billionaires. Forbes says their combined wealth is about 870 billion dollars. Much of it grew during the AI boom.

Q5: Who was Person of the Year before this?

Donald Trump was Person of the Year in 2024. Taylor Swift held the title in 2023. TIME has made these selections since 1927.