TIME names 100 most influential people in AI for 2026

TIME magazine has released its 2026 TIME100 AI list, identifying 100 influential figures shaping the future of artificial intelligence. The list is categorized into four groups: Leaders, Innovators, Shapers, and Thinkers.

Notable inclusions feature tech leaders such as OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Anthropic’s Dario and Daniela Amodei. Mira Murati, former technology lead at OpenAI, appears on the global cover. The list also highlights the growing intersection of AI with creative industries, naming actor Ben Affleck as an innovator and Paris Hilton as a shapers for her advocacy regarding deepfake protections.

In a notable shift in focus, several major hardware and semiconductor executives, including NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su, were absent from this year's list. This suggests a transition in how influence is measured, moving from technical infrastructure providers toward those driving cross-sector applications in entertainment, policy, and social media. Other recognized figures include Caltech professor Anima Anandkumar, noted for her work in AI for scientific discovery.