Ayoung Kim Recognized on TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI List
The artist is noted for her use of generative AI to explore the societal impact of technology.
Artist Ayoung Kim has been named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence for 2026. Kim's work frequently critiques algorithmic governance and the integration of technology into daily life, utilizing generative AI to create visual and video art.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim observed delivery workers in Seoul and their reliance on app-based algorithms for navigation and task management. She aimed to depict "the individual rider’s dependency on the governance of the app [and] how this one-way protocol, disciplined communication, urges an individual human being to be optimized for speed and productivity," she told TIME.
This exploration led to the multimedia art piece "Delivery Dancer Codex," which was exhibited at New York’s MoMA PS1 in the fall of 2025. Kim's growing prominence in the art world was further marked by features in Frieze and Artforum last year, and she received the LG Guggenheim Award for her innovative use of technology in her artistic practice.
Kim extensively employs generative AI in her art, a practice that has positioned her as a significant voice among artists, collectors, and critics. "AI tech is reshaping our entire lives," Kim stated. "I have always wanted to comment on the impact of technology in our society by using it, by appropriating it."