Time's 2025 person of the year for are the architects of AI, depicted in this illustration by Peter Crowther.
Time's 2025 person of the year are the architects of AI, depicted in this painting by Jason Seiler. The painting, with nods to the iconic 1932 “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” photograph, depicts tech leaders Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, and Fei-Fei Li.

Time magazine has chosen "Architects of AI" as its Person of the Year 2025.

The magazine said it opted to recognize artificial intelligence's vast influence across society, from media to politics to the workforce.

"This was the year when artificial intelligence’s full potential roared into view, and when it became clear that there will be no turning back or opting out. Whatever the question was, AI was the answer," said Sam Jacobs, Time's editor-in-chief.

One of the publication's two magazine covers for its person of the year issue includes tech leaders like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Time's annual person of the year selection is a tradition that dates back to 1927. Over the years, the magazine has recognized public figures including celebrities, activists and politicians with the award. Last year, President Donald Trump received the title on the heels of the presidential election. He was also given the recognition in 2016.

See Time Person of the Year 2025: 'Architects of AI'

Time said AI "changed our world in 2025" in both "new and exciting and sometimes frightening ways."

The magazine also called AI "the most consequential tool in great-power competition since the advent of nuclear weapons."

"For delivering the age of thinking machines, for wowing and worrying humanity, for transforming the present and transcending the possible, the Architects of AI are TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year," Jacobs wrote.

The magazine's two person of the year covers for 2025 include an illustration with the letters "AI" as well as a painting that nods to the 1932 photograph, "Lunch atop a Skyscraper.”

The painting, by Jason Seiler, depicts tech leaders Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei and Fei-Fei Li.

As this year's selection suggests, the person of the year doesn't have to be an individual.

In 2006, the magazine similarly recognized a technological advancement by selected "You" as its person of the year – a reflection of the emergence of online communities.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Time magazine names 'Architects of AI' Person of the Year 2025

Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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