Stanford professor calls out the narrative of AI 'replacing' humans. Says, 'if AI takes away our dignity, something is wrong'

Economic Times

16-07-2025

Synopsis
Stanford AI expert Fei-Fei Li has voiced deep concerns over the narrative of AI 'replacing' humans. In a podcast with the Berggruen Institute, she emphasized that AI should augment human abilities, not undermine dignity. Drawing on her vast experience, she urged technologists to design systems that preserve human value rather than reduce people to mere tasks.
Fei-Fei Li, renowned AI pioneer and Stanford professor, warns that AI must never strip humans of their dignity. Speaking on a podcast, she argued against the word 'replace' in AI discourse, advocating for tools that empower rather than displace. (Image: LinkedIn/ Fei Fei Li) In a world increasingly captivated by the power and promise of artificial intelligence, Dr. Fei-Fei Li—one of the most influential voices in global AI research—has made a poignant and powerful appeal: 'AI should never take away our dignity.' Speaking on a recent podcast hosted by the Berggruen Institute, the Stanford professor and former Google AI chief expressed concern over how society talks about technology, especially the use of the word 'replace.' 'It really, truly bothers me when people use the word 'replace' when it's connected to AI,' Li said during the conversation. 'I think we should really replace that word, and think about AI as augmenting or enhancing humans rather than replacing them.' Her words, both calm and firm, come at a time when industries around the globe are debating the future of jobs, creativity, and even decision-making amid the rise of machine intelligence. While she's no stranger to cutting-edge AI systems—being the creator of ImageNet, the dataset that helped launch the deep learning revolution—Li insists that AI must serve humanity, not displace it.
Fei-Fei Li's reflections on AI go beyond functionality and productivity. She warns of reducing human beings to a series of mechanical tasks that machines can outperform. 'Biologically, we run slower, walk slower, can't fly, can't lift as much, can't calculate as fast. But we are so much more than those narrow tasks,' she explained. It's this broader sense of what it means to be human that drives her call for a more responsible and emotionally aware use of technology. 'Dignity is at the core of our being,' she said. 'Everybody needs to find their dignity and their value, and that should not be taken away by AI.'
Her statement echoes the values at the heart of the Stanford Human-Centered AI Institute, which she co-directs, and AI4ALL, a nonprofit she co-founded to promote diversity and inclusion in the AI sector. Beyond academia, Fei-Fei Li is walking the talk. In 2024, she co-founded World Labs, an AI startup developing spatial intelligence systems that seek to understand the three-dimensional physical world in a way that augments human capability. She recently raised $230 million for the venture, showing that technological innovation and ethical leadership can go hand-in-hand. Li was recently appointed to the United Nations Scientific Advisory Board and named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI. Her credentials include roles at Google Cloud, board directorship at Twitter, and a long list of accolades from top institutions such as Princeton and Caltech. Her podcast message has struck a chord with many who feel uneasy about the unchecked acceleration of automation. Rather than succumb to fear or techno-optimism, Li offers a path grounded in empathy, shared values, and intentional design. 'If AI applications take away that sense of dignity,' she warns, 'there's something wrong.'
As AI continues to reshape our world—from how we work to how we relate to each other—voices like Fei-Fei Li's remind us that progress must not come at the cost of our humanity. The challenge ahead, she suggests, is not only technical but moral: to build AI systems that enhance our potential without eclipsing our essence.