USA (Commonwealth Union)_ In a remarkable recognition of their contributions to the field of artificial intelligence (AI), several Indians and individuals of Indian origin have secured positions on Time magazine’s inaugural ‘TIME100 AI List,’ which celebrates the 100 most influential figures in AI. Among these notable honorees, the youngest is 18-year-old Indian-American Sneha Revanur, lauded for her leadership in Encode Justice, a youth-driven initiative advocating for ethical AI, earning her the moniker “Greta Thunberg of AI.”
Additionally, Neal Khosla, the co-founder of telehealth startup Curai Health, and Romesh and Sunil Wadhwani, co-founders of Wadhwani AI, have been recognized for their impactful contributions. Wadhwani AI, based in Mumbai, operates as a nonprofit organization with a mission to harness AI for social good, particularly in healthcare, education, and agriculture. Tushita Gupta, another remarkable figure on the list, serves as the Chief Technology Officer of Refiberd, a US-based company that endeavors to transform textile recycling through AI-driven identification of textile composition. Also gracing the prestigious list is Kalika Bali, Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research India, who has devoted considerable effort to bridging language gaps in technology.
The 2023 TIME100 AI issue boasts a global cover adorned with illustrations by Neil Jamieson, featuring 28 luminaries, including Sam Altman of OpenAI; Dario and Daniela Amodei of Anthropic; and Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind. This inaugural list reflects the transformative impact of AI and its role in shaping the world. Jessica Sibley, Chief Executive Officer of Time, emphasized the magazine’s mission to spotlight individuals and ideas that contribute to a more equitable world and noted the significance of recognizing those who drive innovation in AI, especially those dedicated to promoting equity within the field.
Jessica said, “TIME’s mission is to highlight the people and ideas that are making the world a better, more equitable place. At this critical moment of exceptional growth and advancement in AI, we are proud to reveal the first-ever TIME100 AI list to recognize the individuals leading AI innovation, including those advancing major conversations to promote equity in AI”. The list is characterized by its diversity, comprising 43 CEOs, founders, and co-founders, such as Elon Musk of xAI; Sam Altman of OpenAI; Andrew Hopkins of Exscientia; Nancy Xu of Moonhub; Kate Kallot of Amini; Pelonomi Moiloa of Lelapa AI; Jack Clark of Anthropic; Raquel Urtasan of Waabi; Aidan Gomez of Cohere; and others who are at the forefront of AI innovation.
Furthermore, it includes 41 women and nonbinary individuals who have made significant strides in AI, including Rumman Chowdhury, CEO and co-founder of Humane Intelligence; cognitive scientist Abeba Birhane; Lila Ibrahim, COO of Google DeepMind; Fei-Fei Li, Stanford professor; and artists Linda Dounia Rebeiz and Kelly McKernan, among others. Scientists, professors, researchers, and activists who have left an indelible mark on the AI landscape are also prominently featured, including Joy Buolamwini, Inioluwa Deborah Raji, Timnit Gebru, and more. This inaugural TIME100 AI List serves as a testament to the growing significance of AI in a rapidly evolving world and recognizes those who are shaping its future.
