TIME releases 2026 TIME100 list of influential people in AI

TIME magazine dropped its fourth annual TIME100 AI list on August 27, offering a snapshot of who actually matters in artificial intelligence right now.

The 100 honorees span four categories: Leaders, Innovators, Shapers, and Thinkers. The selection process was led by Ayesha Javed.

The names that made the cut

Sam Altman, who has steered OpenAI through its transformation from research lab to commercial juggernaut, appears on the list. So does Elon Musk, whose xAI venture has become impossible to ignore after merging with SpaceX in a deal that produced a combined valuation of roughly $1.7 trillion in June 2026.

Dario and Daniela Amodei, the sibling duo running Anthropic, also earned spots.

Eddie Wu, who has been reshaping Alibaba’s AI strategy, made the list alongside leaders from ByteDance and Huawei.

Yang Zhilin of Moonshot AI appears as a first-time Innovator honoree.

One conspicuous absence: Jensen Huang, the NVIDIA CEO who has become something of an AI mascot in recent years.

The deals reshaping the landscape

The xAI-SpaceX merger stands out as the most dramatic example, combining a generative AI company with a space and satellite infrastructure giant at a $1.7 trillion valuation.

Meta’s acquisition of Manus in late 2025, valued at $2 to $3 billion, represents a different kind of strategic bet. Rather than building everything in-house, Meta opted to absorb a promising AI startup.

The policy dimension

Senator Bernie Sanders made the list after raising pointed concerns about superintelligence advancements.

TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs characterized the current environment as tumultuous, noting that heated discussions on AI ethics and safety are defining the moment as much as any product launch or funding round.

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