Latest news with #Fei-FeiLi


Time of India
16-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Stanford professor calls out the narrative of AI 'replacing' humans. Says, 'if AI takes away our dignity, something is wrong'
Not Just Tasks, But Human Worth You Might Also Like: Will the AI takeover spare politicians? Expert predicts 3 unexpected careers that could survive by 2045 From Lab to Life: Leading by Example A Shift in the Narrative 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 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 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 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 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.


Economic Times
16-07-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Stanford professor calls out the narrative of AI 'replacing' humans. Says, 'if AI takes away our dignity, something is wrong'
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.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration blocks Harvard from enrolling international students
The Trump administration halted Harvard University's ability to register international students, blocking the Ivy League's student visa program. This major escalation of the conflict between the White House and one of America's leading academic institutions, first reported by The New York Times, came after Harvard rebuffed a Department of Homeland Security request for information about students. Foreign students at Harvard will have to transfer colleges or risk losing their visa. Speaking at a Semafor event, leading Stanford University researcher Fei-Fei Li, known as the 'godmother of AI,' stressed the risks of cutting international student visas amid the global tech race. 'Continuing to nourish our higher education, our public sector, for this kind of innovative, blue sky, curiosity-driven research is critical,' Li said, adding that she hoped her students can 'have a path for immigration.'


Time of India
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna win big at 2025 Webby Awards
The 29th Annual Webby Awards have unveiled this year's winners, honoring some of the most creative and impactful voices on the internet. From global superstars to rising digital talents, the event recognizes those using the internet to inspire, entertain, and connect people across the world. The ceremony, hosted by Ilana Glazer, will take place on May 12 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Special achievement awards spotlight digital changemakers Snoop Dogg received the Entrepreneur of the Year award for his successful fusion between entertainment and business operations. Walton Goggins received the Best Actor award due to his exceptional streaming performances. Jasmine Crockett secured the Advocate of the Year recognition for her efforts to advance equity and inclusion. Marcello Hernández earned the award for his work on Saturday Night Live , while Amelia Dimoldenberg received recognition for changing the online interview dynamic through Chicken Shop Date . Leading AI expert Dr Fei-Fei Li received the Lifetime Achievement Award because of her ethical contributions to the artificial intelligence field. Social media celebrity Jools Lebron won the Crush the Internet Award, alongside The MeidasTouch Podcast earning the Podcast of the Year title for its distinctive political discussions. Also Read : NFL Draft 2025: Date, time, schedule, live streaming, Round 1 order and other details 2025 Webby Award winners list features top names in internet culture Several musicians received Webby Awards this year, with Taylor Swift , Kendrick Lamar , Selena Gomez, and Rihanna earning praises for their digital achievements. Simone Biles and Keke Palmer, together with the Kelce brothers, also received honors. Three distinctive digital personality creators, Caleb Simpson, Laufey and Zach King were also honored as well.. Live Events Google earned the Brand of the Year title as it earned the most awards and nominations, whereas iHeartMedia triumphed as Podcast Company of the Year, while NBCUniversal was declared Media Company of the Year. Webby Awards celebrate the evolving power of digital creativity Executive Director Jesse Feister commended the current honorees for revolutionizing digital and social communication. The Webby Awards demonstrate the growth of the internet through new category additions that feature creators and their immersive storytelling methods. The winners of these digital honors provided entertainment while generating social discourse, expanding limits and engaging international audiences through their content. Also Read : Pope Francis funeral: Donald Trump to Emmanuel Macron, these world leaders set to attend ceremony FAQs: Q1: What honor did Taylor Swift win at the 2025 Webby Awards? Taylor Swift won a Webby Award for her viral For a Fortnight Challenge on TikTok. Q2: Who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Webby Awards? AI expert Dr Fei-Fei Li was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to artificial intelligence and ethical tech innovation.


Reuters
27-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Former Meta executives raise $15 million for AI assistant startup
SAN FRANCISCO, March 27 (Reuters) - Two former Meta (META.O), opens new tab artificial intelligence executives have raised $15 million for Yutori, a startup that will develop AI personal assistants, the company said on Thursday. The round was led by Rob Toews at Radical Ventures, with participation from other investors like Felicis, " AI godmother" Fei-Fei Li, and Google DeepMind chief scientist Jeff Dean. San Francisco-based Yutori is part of a slew of AI startups creating autonomous agents, or systems that use AI to perform actions on their own. Executives in the field such as OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar have said such systems will dominate the AI agenda this year, as models have recently gotten to the point where they can carry out the longer action sequences necessary to execute tasks online without human oversight. "Right now there's a lot happening with chatbots, but chatbots are not doing things for you in a way that can take things off your plate," Yutori co-founder Devi Parikh told Reuters, saying the team has been working to redefine how users interact with autonomous AI agents, with a focus on improving efficiency for tasks ranging from online food orders to complex travel logistics. Yutori says it is focusing on post-training models to make them better at navigating the web, or adapting the base models to hone their performance in specific ways after they have already been 'trained' on reams of generalized data. Post-training has emerged as a crucial step in the development of new reasoning models such as OpenAI's o1 and o3 models. Yutori's team includes Parikh, who led multimodal AI research at Meta, and Dhruv Batra, who led Meta's embodied AI research, a team developing models that robots could use to navigate the 3D physical world. Other team members include the multimodal post-training leads for Llama 3 and Llama 4, Meta's flagship open source models.