AI governance needs less hype and more science
Matt V
February 11, 2025
AI INNOVATION
Stanford researcher Fei-Fei Li opened the AI Action Summit in Paris with a call for a more balanced AI landscape.
She argued that AI shouldn’t be controlled by a handful of big companies but should involve academia, open-source communities, and the public sector.
“If AI is going to change the world, everyone should have a role in shaping that change,” she told attendees.
AI monopoly? No thanks.
She warned that if resources remain concentrated, innovation could suffer, limiting research, open-source efforts, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
At the same time, she voiced concerns about AI regulation, urging policymakers to take a practical, science-driven approach.
“Too much of today’s AI conversation is shaped by hype, leading to misguided policies,” she said. Instead, she called for regulations that focus on AI’s real capabilities and risks.
She also cautioned against heavy restrictions on AI research, arguing that early-stage exploration should be encouraged rather than blocked.
“AI is still young. Instead of limiting research, we should focus on real-world applications to ensure it benefits society,” she added.
Li acknowledged that AI will likely affect jobs but said it has the potential to “augment and empower” workers—if the right decisions are made by policymakers, tech leaders, and researchers.
She emphasised that:
AI development should be open to more players, not just big tech firms.
Regulation should be based on facts, not fear.
AI research needs freedom to grow, with a focus on practical benefits.
The summit continues, with world leaders and tech CEOs expected to release a joint statement on AI’s future.
AI regs need less ‘Black Mirror’ panic and more actual science, please.