Time magazine named the “Architects of AI” as its Person of the Year on Thursday. The magazine highlighted US tech leaders whose innovations are rapidly transforming global life. Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and xAI’s Elon Musk lead the group. Time wrote that these innovators have reshaped information systems, global policy, and modern livelihoods.
Cover pays tribute to iconic 1932 photograph
One cover mirrors the 1932 image of ironworkers lunching above New York City. The illustration shows Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, AMD chief Lisa Su, Musk, Huang, Altman, Google AI head Demis Hassabis, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Stanford professor Fei-Fei Li. They appear seated above the city, symbolising their influence.
AI leaders drive historic technological expansion
Time said the group made massive infrastructure investments while racing against each other. Their work reoriented government policies and reshaped global rivalries. The magazine added that AI now stands as a key tool in great-power competition. Time also credited major investors like SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son for accelerating the sector.
AI becomes central force in 2025
Time reported that 2025 marked AI’s shift from promise to reality. The magazine noted that ChatGPT usage doubled, reaching 10 percent of the world’s population. Huang told Time that AI could expand the global economy from $100 trillion to $500 trillion.
Concerns rise over AI’s social impact
Time highlighted growing worries about AI-driven harm. Lawsuits alleged that chatbots influenced suicides and mental health crises. One case involves California parents suing OpenAI after their son’s death. The magazine also cited increasing fears of job displacement as companies adopt AI models.
Human artists create the Time cover
Time chose not to use AI tools for its cover art. Analysts said the selection reflects AI’s defining role this year.
