Fei-Fei Li, a renowned Stanford computer scientist and founder of a startup, is oftentimes referred to as “the Godmother of AI,” has outlined “three essential principles for the future of AI policymaking” ahead of next week’s AI Action Summit in Paris.

Firstly, Li emphasized that policy should be grounded in “science, not science fiction,” emphasizing that policymakers should focus on the current state of AI, rather than fantastical scenarios, whether they envision a utopia or an apocalypse.

In particular, Li highlighted the importance of acknowledging that chatbots and co-pilot programs are not forms of intelligence with intentions, free will, or consciousness, so policymakers can avoid being swayed by unrealistic scenarios and instead tackle the essential challenges.

Secondly, Li advocated for a policy approach that is “pragmatic, rather than ideological,” where policies should be crafted to “minimize unintended consequences while incentivizing innovation.”

Lastly, Li emphasized that these policies should empower “the entire AI ecosystem, including open-source communities and academia.”

“Open access to AI models and computational tools is vital for progress,” she noted. “Restricting it will create barriers and hinder innovation, particularly for academic institutions and researchers who have limited resources compared to their private-sector counterparts.”