Time Magazine has named the “architects of AI” as its Person of the Year. This designation comes at a significant time when AI technology is making headlines. While many AI leaders are becoming well-known, the day this announcement was made wasn’t great for the industry.
Oracle’s stocks fell over 12% after it revealed high AI-related costs and a disappointing financial outlook. This drop affected the entire market, causing many AI stocks to decline. In the past few months, Oracle’s shares have dropped significantly after a strong start earlier this year.
Investors are concerned. They worry that the excitement around AI might be premature. Oracle is now expected to spend an additional $15 billion on AI, on top of the $10 billion already spent this quarter. This hefty investment comes alongside a staggering debt of over $100 billion.
Not only Oracle suffered losses; other big names like Nvidia and AMD also saw stock dips. Even up-and-coming players like Coreweave, an AI cloud startup, dropped nearly 5%.
Despite this one bad day, AI remains a hot topic. Disney recently invested $1 billion in OpenAI, planning to use some of its popular characters in an AI video generation tool called Sora. This highlights the growing interest and investments in AI technology.
On the list of influential AI leaders, we find Sam Altman from OpenAI, who is working with Oracle on a massive $500 billion project named Stargate. This initiative aims to bolster AI infrastructure in the U.S.
As for OpenAI, it stays ahead, but competitors like Google and Anthropic are rapidly advancing. Time noted that 2025 is a pivotal year, emphasizing how AI is now intertwined in nearly every aspect of our lives—economy, education, and more.
The magazine’s covers are unique this year, featuring images that showcase the tech leaders of AI, not just an individual. Time’s tradition of naming the Person of the Year dates back to 1927, originally starting with a single person and evolving to recognize groups or ideas that have shaped the year.
It’s a fascinating moment for AI—full of ups and downs, but undeniably impactful. For more insights into AI’s influence, you can check out this comprehensive report by PwC.
