Indeed, the world appears to be engrossed in how artificial intelligence will evolve in the days to come, and TIME recognised it as well. This week, the prominent news magazine announced this year’s Person of the Year, and it was conferred to “The Architects of AI.” This group consists of major names in the AI tech industry who created waves not only in the industry but around the globe.
The “Person of the Year” title is awarded to individuals or groups who have played an influential role during the events of the corresponding year. TIME magazine has conferred the title upon celebrated statesmen, esteemed scientists, controversial personalities, and changemakers in society. This year, the editorial chose to highlight the individuals who continue to shape the discourse of artificial intelligence as the harbinger of progress in the twenty-first century.
TIME Magazine announces “Architects of AI” as Person of the Year
On December 11, TIME magazine took to their official X profile to announce the magazine’s “Person of the Year.” The post featured two alternate cover illustrations, with the subtext “The Architects of AI.” The first cover on the left depicts a visualisation of a construction site, featuring two structures which resemble the letters “A” and “I”.
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 (@TIME) December 11, 2025
For delivering the age of thinking machines, for wowing and worrying humanity, for transforming the present and transcending the… pic.twitter.com/mEIKRiZfLo
The second cover on the right is a modern rendition of the famous 1932 photograph “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” by Charles Clyde Ebbets. Instead of the workers in the original photograph, the 2025 rendition consists of eight tech leaders sitting next to each other on a beam. From left to right, the image features Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, AMD chief Lisa Su, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, Google’s DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, Anthropic chief Dario Amodei, and “Godmother of AI” Fei-Fei Li.
The news magazine released a report on their forthcoming Person of the Year issue on December 11. In it, they provide an elaborate study that justifies their choice of the select group of individuals. Simultaneously, TIME acknowledged the crucial role Jensen Huang plays in the grand scheme of things, as his leadership at NVIDIA has triggered several highs and lows in the tech industry. Nevertheless, it is for each of these developments that the AI revolution has come closer than ever.
However, social media has a different opinion altogether.
Related: AMD CEO Lisa Su Isn’t Concerned About The AI Bubble Either
Netizens question TIME’s decision for Person of the Year
Since TIME’s announcement of 2025’s Person of the Year, the comment section of their X post has been lit by varied remarks on the magazine’s choice. Although a few appreciated the personalities who were conferred the title, the rest of the netizens were visibly disappointed.
Among those who were appreciative of TIME magazine’s farsightedness was a user who acknowledged the degree of influence these individuals had upon the market as well as the tech industry at large.
Seeing AI’s architects like Jensen and Sam Altman etch their legacy into 2025 feels like witnessing the dawn of a new era we all secretly hoped for, with breakthroughs like ChatGPT hitting 800 million weekly users and Nvidia soaring past $5 trillion in market value.
— Bedurion (@Bedurion) December 11, 2025
Most of the netizens in the comments, however, chose to express their shock. Some criticized the magazine for comparing the leaders with the hardworking worker from the aforementioned 1932 photograph. Others felt that the choice was unfair and believed other personalities. The list of possible choices includes late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September this year, and Pope Leo XIV, who made headlines for being the first pope from the United States.
You had no right to spoil this picture pic.twitter.com/fp3gangfxi
— obj 🪽 (@obj0x0) December 11, 2025
Across these comments, one idea appeared to be certain – the misinterpretation of the title itself. The title “Person of the Year” is often misconstrued as a positive connotation. Time and again, the magazine has explained their choice with extensive reportage, and this year was no exception.
In their report, TIME magazine stated, “Whether this buildout has gone too far, too fast is a matter of fevered debate.” They continued to acknowledge the major contributions each of the tech leaders made this year while also pointing out the downsides that entail their endeavors. Thus, it is crucial that readers perceive the big picture, which certainly includes the exhaustive research behind the choice itself.
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