Tyto Tech 500:
Tenth Edition
Since 2017, we’ve tracked the people shaping Europe’s technology conversation – from business leaders and journalists to academics and policymakers.
Each year, we rank the most influential people in the industry across the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands, while looking at how the media and influence landscape is changing.
In the tenth edition, we explore what makes someone worth listening to in the AI era – and what that means for PR and comms leaders working to earn attention and build influence.
Human Influence in the Artificial Intelligence Era
There are more ways than ever to build an audience, while AI is making it easier to create more content. But more content doesn’t necessarily mean more influence.
Instead, we’re seeing greater staying power among established voices: twice as many people retained their place on the Tech 500 this year compared with 2025.
As competition for attention grows, our research points to three qualities that increasingly matter: taste, personality and the ability to build a lasting community.
Where Technology Influence is Concentrated Across Europe
The UK remains the biggest source of Tech 500 influencers, but the balance is shifting. Germany has made the most gains this year, alongside growth in the Netherlands, while France’s share of the European ranking has fallen.
UK
34.6%
Germany
28.6%
France
19.6%
Netherlands
17.2%
Taste Becomes a Superpower
When more information is being created than anyone could ever consume, knowing what deserves attention becomes valuable in its own right.
The most influential voices don’t just create content, they curate it – using their judgement to select, interpret and share the ideas and information they believe matter.
At Tyto, we call these people Tastemakers: people whose taste is grounded in expertise and experience, helping others decide what’s worth their time.
Personality Beats Polish
A distinctive point of view is hard to replicate. The voices that stand out sound like themselves, drawing on their personality and experience.
And the format matters. Someone who’s great with the press might not be a natural on a podcast or stage. Each offers a different way to connect with an audience.
The challenge is finding where your spokespeople shine – and giving them the support to bring their personality and authenticity to the fore.
Gather Round and Share
Getting someone’s attention is one thing. Keeping it is another. Lasting influence means giving people a reason to come back and be part of the conversation.
Communities can grow across channels and formats, as influential voices build stronger relationships around the ideas and interests their audiences care about.
That means thinking beyond the individual media hit or social post, and using each interaction to build a relationship that grows over time.
