TIME Magazine has unveiled its 2025 list of the 100 most influential figures driving advances in artificial intelligence.
The list celebrates CEOs, innovators, policymakers, and even faith leaders who are shaping how AI will impact society.
“Today we publish the third edition of the TIME100 AI, our annual look at the most influential people in artificial intelligence,” TIME said in a statement.
It explained that the goal of the list is to “show how the direction AI travels will be determined not by machines but by people—innovators, advocates, artists, and everyone with a stake in the future of this technology.”
A Mix of Global Leaders
The 2025 list features industry titans like Elon Musk of xAI, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, Andy Jassy of Amazon, and Mark Zuckerberg of Meta.
Also recognised are less conventional voices such as Pope Leo XIV, who has championed ethical reflections on AI, and African business leader Strive Masiyiwa, whose work focuses on building infrastructure for AI in the continent.
TIME’s editors said the honorees were grouped into leaders, innovators, shapers, and thinkers, reflecting the wide reach of artificial intelligence across society.
Nigeria Joins the Table
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, is among the global names on the list.
As minister, Tijani has pushed the National AI Strategy (NAIS), developed with over 120 Nigerian experts. The plan prioritises ethical uses of AI in health, agriculture, and education.
His flagship 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme seeks to train three million Nigerians by 2027. Nearly 300,000 learners have already benefitted through online platforms and 220 physical centres.
“This honour reflects the collective effort of innovators and partners who believe in AI’s potential to transform societies,” Tijani wrote on X.
Faith, Ethics, and Africa’s AI Drive
In his May 2025 papal address, Pope Leo XIV warned that the world faces a “new industrial revolution.” He insisted that “AI must serve humanity,” and called for strong safeguards around human dignity, justice, and labour.
His inclusion reflects how spiritual voices are now part of the global debate on artificial intelligence.
Strive Masiyiwa, founder of Econet and Cassava Technologies, earned recognition for tackling Africa’s AI infrastructure deficit. In March 2025, Cassava partnered with Nvidia to launch Africa’s first AI factory in South Africa.
The facility offers 3,000 GPUs for rent to developers, with expansion plans targeting Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco. Investment could reach \$720 million in four years.
“We’re enabling African entrepreneurs to develop AI workloads and build innovative products,” Masiyiwa said in a LinkedIn post.
TIME editors said the selection involved months of research and consultation with past honorees. The list shows that the future of AI is not only being shaped in Silicon Valley but also in Africa, Asia, and even the Vatican.
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