Stanford University launches the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence โ Stanford University News
What happened: Former head of Google AIโs China Center Li Feifei will lead Stanford Universityโs Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence with the universityโs former provost John Etchemendy. The institute aims to advance AI research, education, and policy in order to โimprove the human condition.โ It will focus on the societal impact of AI and designing applications to augment human capabilities, among others.
Why itโs important: The move comes amid broader concerns over the effects of AI on society. Li has been grappling with these concepts for some time. In early 2018, she wrote an op-ed for the New York Times in which she expressed her concern that enthusiasm for the technology is preventing a level-headed look at its effects on society. Leaders of some of Chinaโs biggest tech companies have expressed similar opinions. At the Two Sessions, Chinaโs annual meetings of its national legislative and political advisory bodies, Baidu CEO Robin Li and Tencent head Pony Ma called for ethical rules governing the development of AI. Robin Li also asked the government to participate in the global conversation about AI ethics.
