Bollywood Actor and Producer, Anil Kapoor has been recently featured in the TIME Magazine’s 2024 list of the 100 most influential people in AI. The list was released recently, and the actor was enlisted among some prominent names like Google’s and Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai, Ashwini Vishnaw, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, and many other leaders from India and Indian descent.  

What is TIME100 AI list? 

The TIME100 AI list is a special issue of the TIME100 series that TIME magazine published for the first time in 2021. The following list intended to pay tribute to those personalities that contributes to the development of the artificial intelligence field. 

Criteria 

Innovation 

People who are able to present innovative job or major progress in the application of artificial intelligence technology.  

Impact 

People who have a significant contribution to AI industry at the working places and have made changes in AI and society.  

Leadership 

People who lead organisations, research or projects that define AI and its future.  

Influence 

AI advocates; being persons who get involved in creating awareness of AI and its objectives, ranging from ethical, policy, to other matters of mutual concern.  

Achievements 

The award which aims at acknowledging exceptional contributions or achievements in artificial intelligence be it in academia, industry or as a leader.  

It also tries to focus on the variety of people who work in different organizations like universities, companies, administrative bodies, and more, who are introducing novelties or solving AI issues. 

Prominently, the Times top 100 list is divided into four parts including— leaders, innovators, shapers, and thinkers. Anil Kapoor was included in the shapers category. He is also the only Indian celebrity to make his presence in the realm of Artificial Intelligence.  

His mention in the list and feature on the cover has caught the widespread attention from Indian fans, wondering why the actor has been included at all.  

Why Time Recognized Anil Kapoor as an Influencer?  

The list follows his legal victory in a case against artificial intelligence for unauthorized use of his likeness. In 2023, the actor filed a case with the Delhi High Court seeking protection for his name, image, likeness, persona, voice, and other aspects of his personality that have been misused on the internet. The Delhi High Court ruled in Anil Kapoor’s favor earlier this month, stating that the actor’s name, likeness, image, voice, or any other aspect of his persona cannot be used to create merchandise or ringtones for monetary gain.  

The case was taken up after numerous edited videos, emoticons, and GIFs featuring the actor’s image surfaced on the internet. Anil Kapoor went to protect his catchphrase “jhakaas,” which he first used in his 1985 film Yudh.  

IMPLICATIONS OF ANIL KAPOOR’S VICTORY  

He approached the court when deepfake videos of popular Indian actors including Alia Bhatt, Rashmika Mandanna, Aamir Khan, and Ranvir Singh created a sensation in the country. His victory has paved the way for others to seek legal protection over their personality rights. 

ANIL KAPOOR’S RISE  

Over the decades, the actor has marked a remarkable rise in his career, both on the national and international horizon. Previously, he also co-hosted the popular Indian Television show big boss OTT 3. He shared that the show has been a transformative experience for him as it brought out the child and the father in him while he navigated the emotional highs and lows of the contestants.  

Here’s a list of Indians named in TIME 100 AI list 2024  

Sundar Pichai: CEO, Google and Alphabet  

Satya Nadella: CEO, Microsoft  

Nandan Nilekani: Co-Founder, Infosys  

Ashwini Vaishnaw: Minister of Electronics and Information Technology  

Anil Kapoor: Actor, Bollywood 

Aravind Sriniwas: CEO, Perplixity  

Rohit Prasad: SVP and head scientist of AGI, Amazon  

Amandeep Singh Gill: Secretary General , UN

Vinod Khosla: Founder, Khosla Ventures  

Anant Vijay Singh: Product Lead, Proton  

Divya Sidhart: Co-founder, Collective Intelligence Project  

Shiv Rao: Co-Founder and CEO, Abridge  

Arati Prabhakar: Director, US Office of Science and Technology Policy  

Amba Kak: Co-Executive Director, AI Now Institute  

Dwarkesh Patel: Host, Dwarkesh Podcast