When Time magazine announce d the “Architects of AI” as its Person of the Year for 2025, the world paused to acknowledge a historic turning point. Artificial intelligence, once a curious experiment in computer labs, has now become a civilizational force – a phenomenon reshaping economies, cultures, and global power structures. Time declared 2025 as the year when the potential of AI “roared into view,” marking a moment from which humanity can no longer turn back. For delivering the age of thinking machines, Time chose not an individual but a collective, symbolizing that this revolution belongs to many minds across continents. This monumental announcement also rekindles the long legacy of Time’s Person of the Year, a tradition that began in 1927 to spotlight the most influential force of the past year – for good or for ill. From Roosevelt to Gandhi, from scientists to social movements, the Person of the Year has chronicled the shifting currents of global history.

Very few Indians have found their place in this storied list: Mahatma Gandhi, named in 1930 during the height of India’s nonviolent struggle, and later Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noted for his imprint on global diplomacy and domestic transformation. Their presence reflected not only individual stature but India’s growing significance in the world. This year’s choice – the pioneers of AI – signals something much bigger. It marks the dawn of a new technological epoch. It also opens a powerful opportunity for India, a nation that stands today as the most influential voice of the Global South and the largest English-speaking society in the world.

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At the intersection of demographic strength, technological ambition, and global diplomatic leadership, India finds itself perfectly positioned to help shape the rules, ethics, governance, and vision of the AI revolution. In global forums, India has already become the most persuasive advocate of equitable digital access. After successfully championing digital public infrastructure, digital payments, space demo cratization, and cross-border technological cooperation,........

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