Bosun Tijani, Pope Leo, others feature on TIME100 AI list

TIME Magazine has released its annual TIME100 AI list for 2025, recognizing 100 individuals, including faith leaders, tech innovators, and government officials, who are shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Among the honorees are Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the Catholic Church; Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE national security adviser and chair of G42; and Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.

The list also includes tech executives like Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, Fidji Simo, and Liang Wenfeng, highlighting AI’s reach across sectors.

The TIME100 AI list, now in its third year, spotlights people advancing AI in ethics, infrastructure, and applications. This year’s edition emphasizes AI’s role in global challenges, from economic development to ethical governance. Editors selected nominees based on impact, innovation, and influence over the past year.

Pope Leo XIV, who assumed the papacy in May 2025, represents the intersection of faith and technology. Born Robert Francis Prevost, he chose his papal name to echo Leo XIII, who addressed the Industrial Revolution’s effects on workers. In his inaugural speech, Leo XIV described AI as a “new industrial revolution” needing safeguards for human dignity, justice, and labor.

The Vatican under Leo XIV has acted on these concerns. In June, it hosted a conference on AI, ethics, and corporate governance. The Pope’s keynote highlighted AI’s benefits in healthcare and science but warned of risks to humanity’s grasp of truth and beauty. He noted potential misuse for selfish gain or conflict. Building on Pope Francis’s push for an international AI treaty, Leo XIV has urged tech leaders to prioritize ethics.

Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan drives the UAE’s AI ambitions as chair of G42, a firm building AI supercomputers through partnerships with Microsoft and Cerebras Systems. The UAE aims to become an AI superpower by 2031, requiring more than hardware investments.

In March 2025, after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump, the White House announced a $1.4 trillion UAE investment in American AI infrastructure over the next decade. In May, Trump lifted trade restrictions to the Middle East, enabling a 5GW data center in Abu Dhabi—the world’s largest AI project outside the U.S. Tahnoun and Trump unveiled it later that month. These moves position the UAE as a key player in global AI supply chains.

Bosun Tijani applies entrepreneurial experience to Nigeria’s tech policy. As minister, he leads the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, targeting skills training for 3 million Nigerians by 2027. Tijani told TIME, “We may not have the computer and infrastructure, but we do have the talent.”

The program has trained nearly 300,000 people using a digital platform and 220 learning centers. It connects trainees to jobs through partnerships. Tijani’s approach focuses on building human capital to leverage AI for economic growth in Africa’s largest population.

The list also features other government figures advancing AI in developing nations. Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, sees AI adding at least 6% to the country’s GDP. Her initiatives include AI for agriculture, like weather warnings and soil data, plus a Kinyarwanda AI model and health diagnostic tools. In April, her ministry secured $7.5 million from the Gates Foundation for an AI Scaling Hub.

Mfikeyi Makayi, CEO of KoBold Metals Africa, uses AI for mineral discovery. KoBold’s tools analyzed data to locate a major copper deposit in Zambia, set for production by the early 2030s. The company targets metals for electric vehicles and renewables, with operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Botswana. KoBold raised $537 million in early 2025, backed by Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Reid Hoffman.

In creative fields, Kakul Srivastava, CEO of Splice, integrates AI into music without replacing artists. Splice’s marketplace offers over 3 million sounds, used in hits like Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso.” Srivastava views musicians as hackers, using AI to enhance searches and creativity.

Film editor Dávid Jancsó drew attention for using AI in “The Brutalist,” which earned 10 Oscar nominations in 2025. He applied Respeecher software to refine Hungarian dialogue for stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, speeding post-production. This sparked debate in Hollywood, but the Academy ruled AI use does not affect awards eligibility.

Tech giants dominate the list’s business section. Elon Musk, CEO of xAI and Tesla, advances AI through Grok models and autonomous driving tech. His xAI raised billions in 2024-2025 to build AI for scientific discovery, emphasizing open-source approaches amid regulatory debates.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, continues to lead after navigating 2024’s board turmoil. OpenAI’s GPT series powers applications worldwide, with Altman advocating for safe AI development through global alliances. Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Meta, integrates AI into social platforms. Meta’s Llama models, released openly, support developers, while AI features in Instagram and Facebook enhance user experiences.

Fidji Simo, CEO of Applications at OpenAI, oversees product deployment. Her background in e-commerce and tech scales AI tools for businesses, focusing on practical integrations like chatbots and analytics. Liang Wenfeng, CEO of DeepSeek, builds cost-effective AI models in China. DeepSeek’s open-source LLMs compete globally, emphasizing efficiency for emerging markets and reducing reliance on Western tech.

The TIME100 AI 2025 list reflects AI’s maturation. Honorees span continents, from Africa’s talent programs to Middle Eastern infrastructure and Vatican ethics. Editors noted AI’s potential to address inequality but stressed governance needs.

Pope Leo XIV’s inclusion underscores moral dimensions. “AI must serve humanity,” he said in June. Tahnoun’s deals show geopolitical shifts, with U.S.-UAE ties strengthening AI supply chains. Tijani’s work highlights grassroots training in resource-limited settings.

Other notables include researchers advancing AI safety and entrepreneurs in biotech. The list avoids ranking, instead grouping by categories like leaders, innovators, and shapers.

TIME’s selection process involved nominations from experts and past honorees. The full list is available on TIME.com.