Time Magazine Recognizes Desi and Indian-Origin Techies in Inaugural ‘TIME100 AI List’

Time magazine has unveiled its first-ever ‘TIME100 AI List,’ showcasing the 100 most influential individuals in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Among the notable honorees are several Desi, Indians and Indian-origin tech experts who have made significant contributions to the AI landscape.

At just 18 years old, Indian-American Sneha Revanur has become the youngest person to earn a spot on the list. Renowned for her leadership in Encode Justice, a youth-led movement advocating for ethical AI, Revanur recently met with the Joe Biden Administration. She is often referred to as the “Greta Thunberg of AI” for her tireless dedication to advancing responsible AI practices.

Neal Khosla, a co-founder of the telehealth startup Curai Health, founded in 2017, has also received recognition on this prestigious list for his pioneering work in the healthcare sector.

Romesh and Sunil Wadhwani, the co-founders of Wadhwani AI, have been acknowledged for their endeavors in leveraging AI for social good. Based in Mumbai, Wadhwani AI is a non-profit organization committed to developing and implementing AI solutions in areas such as healthcare, education, and agriculture.

Tushita Gupta serves as the Chief Technology Officer of Refiberd, a U.S.-based company with a mission to revolutionize textile recycling using AI to identify the composition of various textile items.

Another luminary on the TIME100 AI list is Kalika Bali, a Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research India. She has dedicated several years to breaking down language barriers in technology.

Beyond technical research, one honoree, Shakir Mohamed, has embraced a broader mission. Hailing from South Africa, Mohamed recognized the lack of representation from his home continent in the AI field. In 2017, he co-founded the Deep Learning Indaba, an organization aimed at strengthening machine learning and AI across Africa. Mohamed’s commitment to fostering AI talent in Africa has earned him a well-deserved place on the TIME100 AI list.

The 2023 TIME100 AI issue features a global cover adorned with illustrations by Neil Jamieson for TIME. It showcases 28 individuals from the list, including luminaries like Sam Altman of OpenAI, Dario and Daniela Amodei of Anthropic, and Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, among others.

Speaking about this milestone, Time’s Chief Executive Officer Jessica Sibley remarked, “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 TIME100 AI list boasts 43 CEOs, founders, and co-founders, including prominent figures like Elon Musk of xAI, Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Andrew Hopkins of Exscientia.

Additionally, it features 41 women and nonbinary individuals, such as Rumman Chowdhury, CEO, and co-founder of Humane Intelligence, and Fei-Fei Li, a Stanford professor.

The list also includes distinguished scientists, professors, researchers, and activists who have made remarkable strides in AI, such as Joy Buolamwini, Inioluwa Deborah Raji, and Timnit Gebru.