For years, there has been talk of artificial intelligence extending into the physical realm, but no instance exemplifies this more clearly than the autonomous taxi company . Although AI-powered taxis may appear futuristic or daunting to many, Waymo vehicles have already integrated smoothly into daily life in several major urban centers, having facilitated over 10 million journeys. This spring, seeking insight into our current and future AI landscape, TIME correspondent Andrew R. Chow experienced them firsthand in Austin and conversed with Waymo co-CEOs Dmitri Dolgov and Tekedra Mawakana regarding the company’s understated emergence on the roads—and its future direction.
His investigative work forms the foundation for the leading article in our fifth yearly TIME100 Most Influential Companies publication, released this week. Waymo serves as a model for ethical technological advancement: driven by a significant objective (to reduce traffic fatalities), they have meticulously engineered their technology and deployed it gradually (at a pace considered very slow by Silicon Valley norms), understanding that one fatal incident could jeopardize not only their own enterprise but also the entire sector. “Trust is arduous to establish and simple to forfeit,” Mawakana informed TIME. “We’ve grasped the necessary degree of modesty: ultimately, the patrons will be the arbiters.”
Featured on the issue’s alternate cover, Ryan Reynolds similarly focused his venture on fostering public confidence, albeit with remarkable swiftness. His marketing and production company, , introduced the concept of “fastvertising” to describe seizing a cultural opportunity to create a pertinent advertisement within mere days, and it is Reynolds’s genuine, approachable demeanor that cultivates consumer trust. This approach has proven effective: The businesses Reynolds co-possesses or has divested are collectively valued at more than $14 billion; his recent Deadpool film emerged as the highest-earning R-rated movie last year, exceeding $1.3 billion in box office revenue; and his football club, Wrexham AFC, made history as the first to achieve three successive promotions within the British football league system.
For the selection of the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, our editorial team, spearheaded by Emma Barker Bonomo, solicited nominations and submissions from diverse industries, polled our global contributors and correspondents, and consulted external specialists. A singular data point or financial indicator does not define a TIME100 Company. Rather, we considered a multifaceted combination of attributes, examining influence, groundbreaking ideas, strategic aspirations, and achievements, each manifesting in contemporary forms. And as is consistently stated for all TIME100 endeavors: influence can manifest in various ways, for both advantageous and disadvantageous outcomes.
Beyond the one hundred companies showcased on the main compilation, this year we are launching the TIME100 Companies —acknowledging five supplementary distinguished enterprises that are making significant contributions within the domains of AI, Health, Sustainability, Equality, and Culture. These organizations were chosen from candidates that demonstrated remarkable foresight and demonstrable achievements. The initial awardees include: for its Impact in AI, for its Impact in Health, for its Impact in Sustainability, for its Impact in Equality, and for its Impact in Culture.
Discover more about all the TIME100 Most Influential Companies of 2025 .
