Fei-Fei Li Calls for Clear Communication on AI Benefits as U.S. Faces Growing Public Concern

Fei-Fei Li, known as the 'AI mother', has called on technology professionals to better explain the benefits of artificial intelligence to the public. She warned that rising public opposition to AI in the United States could pose risks globally. In an interview, Li emphasized the importance of the U.S. setting a positive example in AI development, highlighting its potential for significant economic value. She noted that resistance to AI data centers has increased in several U.S. regions, with concerns over water and energy consumption. A Pew Research Center survey found that half of Americans are more worried than excited about AI's growing role in daily life. In contrast, many Asian countries have a more positive attitude towards AI, which Li attributes to early emphasis on AI in basic education. Li, who is also an educator and scholar, reflected on the need for better public communication about AI. Her research laid the foundation for many modern AI breakthroughs, including the ImageNet project, which significantly advanced computer vision. She founded World Labs, which develops 'world models' capable of understanding and navigating the 3D world. World Labs recently secured a $1 billion investment, with potential applications in robotics, healthcare, and education. Li believes these technologies could have wide-ranging impacts across multiple sectors.