Time Magazine has named the architects of artificial intelligence as its Person of the Year for 2025.
This year’s recognition follows President Donald Trump, who earned the title in 2024 after securing his second term in the White House. Trump previously received the honor in 2016, the year he was first elected.
Ahead of the announcement, prediction markets had spotlighted AI and tech leaders Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Sam Altman of OpenAI as frontrunners. Other potential contenders included Pope Leo XIV, Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
The Time Person of the Year tradition began in 1927, with editors selecting the person or entity they judged to have most influenced headlines over the previous 12 months.
While the public can participate in an online poll, the final decision rests with Time’s editorial team, and the selection remains closely guarded until the official announcement.
Although typically awarded to an individual, the title has occasionally recognized objects or archetypes. For instance, the personal computer was named the “Time Machine of the Year” in 1982, and the protestor received the honor in 2011.
The TIME Person of the Year acknowledges the individual, group, or concept that had the greatest impact over the past year, reflecting influence rather than a strictly positive accolade.