5 Indian-origin innovators in annual TIME’s 100 AI list

The honorees were recognized for their contributions to AI from corporate transformation to climate solutions and creative industries.

(Top, L-R) Ravi Kumar, Maithra Ragu, (Bottom, L-R) Navrin Singh, Priya Donti, and Kakul Srivastava / TIME

TIME magazine has released its third annual TIME100 AI list, spotlighting five Indian-origin leaders among the 100 most influential people driving advances in artificial intelligence across industries.

Those recognized include—Ravi Kumar S, Maithra Raghu, Navrina Singh, Priya Donti, and Kakul Srivastava.

Also read: Two Indian-origin executives among inaugural AI 50 honorees

Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant, envisions “sentient enterprises” powered by agentic AI and human collaboration. Under his leadership, the $35 billion IT services giant has invested heavily in generative AI, launching its Agent Foundry platform, securing 59 patents, and training millions through its Synapse upskilling program. Kumar argues AI will democratize expertise rather than eliminate jobs.

Maithra Raghu, co-founder and CEO of Samaya AI, has positioned her startup as a trusted AI partner for Wall Street. Unlike general-purpose chatbots, Samaya specializes in financial intelligence, generating research reports and complex economic analyses. Backed by investors including Eric Schmidt and Yann LeCun, the firm recently raised $43.5 million and unveiled “Causal World Models” to assess global economic scenarios.

Navrina Singh, founder and CEO of Credo AI, focuses on governance, helping companies detect risks such as bias, compliance failures, and hallucinations in generative AI. Credo has doubled its customer base with clients like Mastercard and McKinsey, while Singh continues to advise U.S. and international regulatory bodies on responsible AI oversight.

At MIT, assistant professor Priya Donti develops machine learning models to integrate renewable energy into power grids, addressing the complex physics of balancing electricity flows. Her work aims to accelerate decarbonization at a critical moment for the planet’s energy future.

Kakul Srivastava, CEO of Splice, is reimagining music creation through AI-powered discovery tools while ensuring artists remain central. Splice’s platform now allows musicians to transform sounds into virtual instruments and earn royalties automatically.

The list also recognizes two Indians. Mitesh Khapra, an associate professor in IIT Madras, and Abhishek Singh, CEO of IndiaAI Mission.

Khapra leads AI4Bharat, creating open-source datasets for 22 Indian languages, enabling startups, courts, and farmers with voice technology. His work underpins India’s Bhashini program and foundation AI models, advancing linguistic inclusion and digital sovereignty.

Singh, heads IndiaAI Mission, a government-led seven-pillar strategy to democratize AI access. Backed by state and philanthropic funding, he develops AI applications across health, agriculture, and climate, aiming to revolutionize digital public services for millions and showcase India’s global leadership.

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