Historic Recognition for AI Pioneers
TIME Magazine has selected the architects of artificial intelligence as its 2025 Person of the Year, marking a pivotal moment in technological history. The recognition honors the visionaries who have transformed AI from a distant concept into a transformative force reshaping every aspect of modern life.
Iconic Cover Features Tech Industry Leaders
The magazine’s first cover pays homage to Charles Clyde Ebbets’ legendary 1932 photograph “Lunch atop a Skyscraper”, featuring prominent figures in the AI revolution. The cover showcases Mark Zuckerberg, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) CEO Lisa Su, Elon Musk (CEO of X, SpaceX, and Tesla), Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, DeepMind Technologies CEO Demis Hassabis, Anthropic AI CEO Dario Amodei, and Fei-Fei Li, known as the “godmother of AI” for her pioneering work in the field.
A second cover depicts the construction of the letters “A” and “I,” symbolizing the ongoing building process of artificial intelligence and featuring additional contributors to the AI revolution.
2025: The Year of No Return
In a statement shared on X, the magazine declared: “2025 was the year AI’s full potential emerged, and it became clear there would be no turning back.” The announcement emphasized how these architects of thinking machines have captivated and concerned humanity in equal measure, transforming the present and pushing beyond what was previously possible.
Previous Years’ Honorees
In 2024, TIME selected U.S. President Donald Trump for the second time, recognizing his “historic comeback” and leadership in what was described as a once-in-a-generation political restructuring.
The 2023 Person of the Year was American singer Taylor Swift, highlighting the magazine’s tradition of recognizing individuals who have significantly shaped the cultural and social landscape of their time.
