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“Architects of AI” Named Time’s Person of the Year for Transforming Society
Time magazine has named the “Architects of AI” as its 2023 Person of the Year, recognizing the individuals who designed and built artificial intelligence systems that have fundamentally altered society’s trajectory.
The magazine deliberately chose to honor the people behind the technology rather than AI itself, highlighting how 2023 became 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,” according to Time’s editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs.
One of the magazine’s striking cover images depicts eight tech leaders seated on a steel beam high above a cityscape, reminiscent of the iconic 1932 “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” photograph. The featured executives include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, AMD CEO Lisa Su, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, who launched World Labs last year.
Five of these eight individuals—Musk, Zuckerberg, Huang, Altman, and Su—are already billionaires with a collective fortune estimated by Forbes at $870 billion, with much of this wealth accumulated during the past three years as AI fever has swept through the technology sector and financial markets.
The magazine noted the attendance of AI company CEOs at President Donald Trump’s inauguration this year as a significant marker of the industry’s growing political influence and prominence. This symbolism aligns with the technology’s rapid mainstream adoption during 2023.
“This was the year when AI shifted from a novel technology explored by early adopters to one where a critical mass of consumers see it as part of their mainstream lives,” said Thomas Husson, principal analyst at research firm Forrester.
However, amid the celebration of innovation, some experts have expressed serious concerns about the headlong rush toward increasingly powerful AI systems. Anthony Aguirre, executive director of the nonprofit Future of Life Institute, which focuses on AI safety issues, warned, “Leading AI companies are working feverishly to replace humans in every facet of life, and they’re not being shy about it. The impact on our society could be catastrophic if there are no guardrails protecting what’s human, and most important to us.”
Time’s annual Person of the Year selection, dating back to 1927, is meant to recognize the individual or group that most shaped headlines and influenced events over the previous 12 months. AI was a leading contender according to prediction markets, alongside individual nominees like Huang and Altman. Pope Leo XIV (the first American pope, whose election followed Pope Francis’s death), Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani were also considered contenders.
The selection follows Donald Trump being named 2024’s Person of the Year and Taylor Swift receiving the honor in 2023.
Time magazine has been owned since 2018 by Salesforce co-founder Marc Benioff, who has described AI as “probably the most important” technological wave of his lifetime, though he has consistently maintained that he does not influence the magazine’s editorial decisions.
The second cover image created for the issue depicts scaffolding surrounding giant “AI” letters made to resemble computer components, visually representing the construction of this transformative technology that has rapidly become embedded in mainstream society.
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10 Comments
The rapid advancements in AI highlighted by Time are both exciting and concerning. I hope these leaders will prioritize ethical, transparent and socially responsible AI development.
That’s a critical point. The impact of AI on society needs to be carefully managed, not just the technological breakthroughs.
It’s remarkable to see how quickly AI has become a driving force in so many industries, from mining to manufacturing. I’m curious to learn more about how specific AI applications are transforming these sectors.
Yes, the potential AI holds for improving efficiency and productivity in industries like mining is intriguing. I wonder how these leaders plan to responsibly harness that potential.
The rise of AI presents both exciting opportunities and daunting risks. I hope these leaders will seek diverse perspectives and prioritize the public interest as they chart the course for this transformative technology.
Fascinating to see the ‘Architects of AI’ recognized for their pivotal role in shaping society’s future. I wonder how these tech leaders will steer the continued development and application of AI systems going forward.
Agreed, the cover image is striking and symbolic. These pioneers hold immense power and responsibility in guiding AI’s transformative potential.
As an investor, I’m eager to understand how AI advancements will impact the mining, energy and commodity sectors. I’ll be following these developments closely to identify potential investment opportunities and risks.
While the achievements of these AI pioneers are undeniable, I can’t help but feel uneasy about the immense power they wield. Oversight and accountability will be crucial as AI becomes more pervasive.
Kudos to Time for recognizing the pivotal role of these tech innovators. I’m curious to hear their vision for the future of AI and how they plan to navigate the complex ethical challenges ahead.