TIME magazine has named “The Architects of AI” as its 2025 Person of the Year

TIME magazine has named “The Architects of AI” as its 2025 Person of the Year, recognising individuals shaping artificial intelligence at the intersection of technology, society, and power. Among those honoured are two Indian-American figures, Karandeep Anand and Sriram Krishnan, whose work reflects how AI is simultaneously transforming personal lives and global geopolitics.

Shift From Inventors to System Builders

The 2025 recognition marks a departure from celebrating lone innovators to acknowledging leaders who operate within complex systems. Artificial intelligence is no longer experimental or distant. It is embedded in daily products, national strategies, and institutional decision-making. Anand and Krishnan represent this shift, influencing AI not only through innovation but also through governance, ethics, and scale.

Karandeep Anand and Human-Centred AI

As Chief Executive Officer of Character.AI, Karandeep Anand has focused on the emotional dimension of artificial intelligence. His platform enables users to engage in conversational and imaginative interactions, positioning AI as a form of digital presence rather than a productivity tool. The rapid adoption of Character.AI, especially among younger users, highlighted AI’s role in addressing isolation and the need for connection. At the same time, it triggered debates around emotional dependence, safety, and ethical boundaries, placing Anand at the centre of discussions on how deeply AI should integrate into human relationships.

Sriram Krishnan and AI as Strategic Power

Sriram Krishnan operates in a markedly different arena. As a senior adviser on artificial intelligence in the White House, he works on aligning technological advancement with national interest. His approach treats AI as critical infrastructure, where data centres, chips, and regulation directly affect global competitiveness. Krishnan’s career across major technology firms, venture capital, and government reflects a focus on accelerating deployment and reducing policy friction, ensuring the United States maintains strategic leadership in AI development.

Exam Oriented Facts

• TIME Person of the Year highlights individuals shaping global change.
• Character.AI is known for conversational and role-based AI systems.
• Artificial intelligence is increasingly viewed as strategic infrastructure.
• Indian-Americans lead several major global technology companies.

Indian-American Influence in the AI Era

The prominence of Anand and Krishnan reflects a broader trend of Indian-American leadership in artificial intelligence. Leaders such as Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Arvind Krishna, and Aravind Srinivas are steering major platforms and institutions through the AI transition. Together, they demonstrate how artificial intelligence has become an organising principle of modern life, shaping both individual experience and global power structures.