Fei-Fei Li, a pivotal figure in the current surge of artificial intelligence, faced skepticism among computer scientists for her vision of creating ImageNet, an extensive visual database that would redefine the field of computer vision. The recently released memoir, "The World I See," not only chronicles her groundbreaking work in curating ImageNet but also delves into her formative years, spanning China to New Jersey, and her journey through academia, Silicon Valley, and the corridors of Congress.
Li, now a founding director at Stanford University's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, conceived ImageNet as more than a colossal dataset. In her words, "ImageNet is really an attempt to define the problem of object recognition and also to provide a path to solve it, which is the big data path."
The interview with The Associated Press reveals Li's perspective on the evolution of artificial intelligence. Reflecting on the advancements over the past 15 years, she notes that recent achievements like DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, Google Gemini, and ChatGPT align with her vision of large-data-based solutions. However, she expresses surprise at the rapid development of generative AI, emphasizing the unexpected speed at which technology has progressed.
Addressing the aspirations of people regarding intelligent machines, Li emphasizes the fundamental desire for dignity and a good life. She underscores the importance of aligning technology with universal human values, including freedom. According to her, discussions about technology often overlook these foundational principles, a responsibility she believes extends to technologists, businesses, and journalists collectively.
Li also dispels common misconceptions about AI, particularly critiquing the tendency in journalism to frame AI as the sole actor. She stresses the crucial role of human agency in creating, deploying, and governing technology, urging a more respectful acknowledgment of this aspect in public discourse.
Drawing from her background in neuroscience, Li highlights the vast differences between AI processes and human intelligence. While acknowledging the inspiration drawn from the brain's neural architecture, she emphasizes the complexity and mystery that still surrounds human brain science. Li underscores the need to respect the unknowns in understanding how humans think and create, emphasizing that the brain serves as an infinite source of inspiration for the trajectory of artificial intelligence.
In her journey from ImageNet to the current AI landscape, Fei-Fei Li's insights provide a comprehensive view of the challenges, achievements, and evolving perspectives in the field of artificial intelligence.
