Google, YouTube, Intel, Anthropic chiefs honoured as tech navigates AI expansion, political scrutiny
Google CEO Sundar Pichai makes TIME 100’s list of most influential people. PHOTO: Time Magazine
Five major technology leaders have made it onto TIME 100‘s list of the most influential people of 2026, showing just how important the industry has become, not just for innovation, but also for global politics.
The annual list highlights the world’s most influential leaders, artists, and innovators. This year, figures from the technology and digital world stand out for their roles in expanding digital platforms, advancing computing, and navigating challenges tied to the industry.
One of the names is Neal Mohan, who took over as YouTube’s CEO in 2023. Mohan has helped push the video sharing platform even further into the mainstream, turning it into a dominant force in United States television.
A big part of that success has come from stronger partnerships with sports leagues, creators, and advertisers.
Sundar Pichai also made the list, thanks to his push to bring AI into everyday products. Since becoming Google’s CEO in 2015, Pichai has overseen the rollout of tools like Gemini, NotebookLM, and Google AI Studio, bringing AI features to billions of users worldwide.
Things have been a bit more turbulent for Lip-Bu Tan, who stepped in as Intel’s CEO in 2025. He faced early criticism from US President Donald Trump over his connections to China, along with pressure from the US government, which took a near 10% stake in the company.
Even with major layoffs, Intel managed to recover thanks to support from SoftBank and Nvidia, as well as progress on its 18A chip technology.
Then there are siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who are behind one of the most talked-about AI companies, Anthropic. The company, best known for its Claude chatbot, has grown rapidly, reaching a valuation of around $380 billion.
However, that growth has also brought some negative attention, especially as the company navigates questions around AI safety and its ties to government and defense work.
Beyond technology, the TIME 100 list also celebrates big names in entertainment, including singers Luke Combs and Jennie, and actors including Jonathan Groff, Zoe Saldaña, Hilary Duff, Kate Hudson, and Ranbir Kapoor, who is the only Bollywood actor to be named in the list.
