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AI leaders honored as Time's 2025 Person of the Year
For the first time in over a decade, Time has selected a collective rather than an individual as its Person of the Year, recognizing the architects of artificial intelligence (AI) for their transformative impact on society in 2025.
The honorees
The magazine featured two distinct covers. One showcases an artistic depiction of the letters "AI" surrounded by workers, while the other highlights the tech executives driving the industry's rapid expansion. Among those depicted are Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, X owner Elon Musk, and AI researcher Fei-Fei Li. Also included are OpenAI's Sam Altman, AMD's Lisa Su, Anthropic's Dario Amodei, and Google DeepMind's Sir Demis Hassabis.
A technological revolution accelerates
Time's editor-in-chief, Sam Jacobs, stated that no group had a greater influence in 2025 than "the individuals who imagined, designed, and built AI." The magazine noted that the debate over responsible AI deployment has given way to a race to integrate the technology as swiftly as possible. "Humanity is now flying down the highway, all gas no brakes, toward a highly automated and highly uncertain future," the publication wrote.
"Humanity will determine AI's path forward, and each of us can play a role in shaping its structure and future."
Sam Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief, Time
AI's growing footprint in daily life
Analysts describe 2025 as a tipping point for AI adoption, with the technology now embedded in hardware, software, and services at an unprecedented pace. Forrester's Thomas Husson told the BBC that most consumers interact with AI daily without realizing it. From planning holidays to finding recipes, chatbots are increasingly replacing search engines and social media for many users.
However, concerns persist. Critics highlight AI's energy consumption, the ethics of its training data, and its potential to disrupt livelihoods. Some individuals and organizations have opted out of AI tools entirely, wary of its unchecked expansion.
Recognition amid caution
Nik Kairinos, CEO of Fountech AI, called the recognition an "honest assessment" of AI's influence but warned against equating visibility with preparedness. "At this moment, AI can still be a saviour or scourge to humanity," he said. "We are still in the early stages of building AI systems that are dependable, accountable, and aligned with human values."
"For those of us developing the technology and bringing AI tools to market, there is huge responsibility."
Nik Kairinos, CEO, Fountech AI
Historical context
Time's decision to honor a group rather than an individual is not unprecedented. In 2014, the magazine recognized Ebola fighters, and in 2002, it honored whistleblowers. The last non-human recipient was the computer in 1982, represented by tech pioneers like Steve Jobs and IBM's John Opel. In 2006, the award went to "You," celebrating the power of online communities and user-generated content.
