Reading Notes on "The World I See"

"The World I See" Reading Notes#

Author: [US] Fei-Fei Li
Reading Duration: 5 hours

These are the notes and excerpts I recorded while reading "The World I See" on WeChat Reading.

01 A Washington Trip Like Sitting on Pins and Needles#

Another milestone in my career: testifying before Congress. I stepped out of the hotel and onto the sidewalk. The morning sun in Washington, D.C. was pale.

Respect for individual dignity, valuing the intrinsic worth of group representation, believing that the direction of human effort should be guided by the will and interests of the majority, rather than the minority.

The technological revolution must be deeply rooted in the foundation of human struggle, must respect the collective dignity of global society, and must always remember its origins: the physical qualities of humans are unremarkable in nature, and it is only because humans possess endless imagination that human society has made significant progress. Humans are so confused about their own essence that they now hope to reshape themselves with silicon. Therefore, the artificial intelligence revolution must be explicitly human-centered.

Another milestone in my career: testifying before Congress. I stepped out of the hotel and onto the sidewalk. The morning sun in Washington, D.C. was pale.

Respect for individual dignity, valuing the intrinsic worth of group representation, believing that the direction of human effort should be guided by the will and interests of the majority, rather than the minority.

The technological revolution must be deeply rooted in the foundation of human struggle, must respect the collective dignity of global society, and must always remember its origins: the physical qualities of humans are unremarkable in nature, and it is only because humans possess endless imagination that human society has made significant progress. Humans are so confused about their own essence that they now hope to reshape themselves with silicon. Therefore, the artificial intelligence revolution must be explicitly human-centered.

02 The Journey of Pursuing Dreams#

She adjusted the common parenting goals of the time and took pride in it: I certainly want to study hard and reach my full potential, but I do this not to please anyone or to gain anything. Although she never explicitly expressed it, I could sense that she viewed terms like "model student" and "good citizen" as condescending judgments. She taught me that my efforts were not to satisfy teachers, nor to conform to any ideology, nor even to cater to some nebulous rules. My efforts were simply for myself.

Over time, I began to realize that the fairness and inclusiveness in my family were not a given outside of it. And the teacher's words were not the first signs of gender discrimination; most signs were very subtle and even hard to discern, such as my vague feeling that teachers were more willing to encourage boys in math and science. Some differential treatment was also unapologetic.

Ironically, the more I mourned his departure, the more I realized that the memories I cherished about him were precisely what physics wanted to teach me. My father had a natural ability to view the world through the lenses of light, speed, torque, force, weight, and tension. He improvised gears and pulley systems to solve various problems at home; he utilized electricity with multimeters and welding tools. Physics had always been the implicit foundation of my father's thinking, but it wasn't until now, when I missed him the most, that I had this epiphany. What a precious realization. Though he was far away, I gradually understood that he had given me everything I needed. Cognitive barriers appear quickly and disappear just as fast. I suddenly felt a new dimension of physics, which I could only describe as a romance I had never realized before. It was as if daylight flooded in, and I saw the essence of physics, just as my father saw the essence of the natural world: the pure source of miracles. At that moment, I not only understood the meaning of physical concepts but also appreciated their beauty. After returning to school, I felt as if I had been reborn in learning physics. I stared at the textbook, eagerly exploring its mysteries. This feeling was unprecedented.

However, just when this new skill seemed to be flowing out of me continuously, I felt deeply humble, or rather, excited, because I saw that there was so much knowledge waiting for me to explore. In physics, what I saw was not complexity, but grandeur. Physics contains both the elegance and certainty of mathematics and the tangibility of chemistry, and most attractively, I had never imagined that science could bring a sense of humanity, as poetic as the literature I had encountered since childhood. The history of physics is rich and vivid, spanning centuries, and it captivated me deeply.

But now, wherever I go, physics has become the lens through which I observe the world. I feel as if I am in a continuous daydream: when I turn while riding my bike, I think about the changes in acceleration and angular momentum; when our cat leaps down from the highest cabinet in the kitchen, I think about the magnitude of gravity and the force generated when the cat's mass collides with the floor; I study how sunlight reflects off the wall through the window and crosses over my pillow; I think about the heat transferred between every surface in my home, community, and the world; I imagine entropy, relentless and eternal, slowly deconstructing everything around me. By the end of my second year of junior high, I realized that physics was no longer just an effort I made during my adolescence to fill the void left by my father's absence. I love physics, just as my parents love the pursuits they shared with me since my childhood; this love is simple and pure. My parents showed me that there were more possibilities in the world, giving me adventure, stories, and imagination. These once defined my life. But before this, I was merely a bystander. Physics was the first thing I discovered for myself, and it felt different. This time, I could chase it.

She adjusted the common parenting goals of the time and took pride in it: I certainly want to study hard and reach my full potential, but I do this not to please anyone or to gain anything. Although she never explicitly expressed it, I could sense that she viewed terms like "model student" and "good citizen" as condescending judgments. She taught me that my efforts were not to satisfy teachers, nor to conform to any ideology, nor even to cater to some nebulous rules. My efforts were simply for myself.

Over time, I began to realize that the fairness and inclusiveness in my family were not a given outside of it. And the teacher's words were not the first signs of gender discrimination; most signs were very subtle and even hard to discern, such as my vague feeling that teachers were more willing to encourage boys in math and science. Some differential treatment was also unapologetic.

Ironically, the more I mourned his departure, the more I realized that the memories I cherished about him were precisely what physics wanted to teach me. My father had a natural ability to view the world through the lenses of light, speed, torque, force, weight, and tension. He improvised gears and pulley systems to solve various problems at home; he utilized electricity with multimeters and welding tools. Physics had always been the implicit foundation of my father's thinking, but it wasn't until now, when I missed him the most, that I had this epiphany. What a precious realization. Though he was far away, I gradually understood that he had given me everything I needed. Cognitive barriers appear quickly and disappear just as fast. I suddenly felt a new dimension of physics, which I could only describe as a romance I had never realized before. It was as if daylight flooded in, and I saw the essence of physics, just as my father saw the essence of the natural world: the pure source of miracles. At that moment, I not only understood the meaning of physical concepts but also appreciated their beauty. After returning to school, I felt as if I had been reborn in learning physics. I stared at the textbook, eagerly exploring its mysteries. This feeling was unprecedented.

However, just when this new skill seemed to be flowing out of me continuously, I felt deeply humble, or rather, excited, because I saw that there was so much knowledge waiting for me to explore. In physics, what I saw was not complexity, but grandeur. Physics contains both the elegance and certainty of mathematics and the tangibility of chemistry, and most attractively, I had never imagined that science could bring a sense of humanity, as poetic as the literature I had encountered since childhood. The history of physics is rich and vivid, spanning centuries, and it captivated me deeply.

But now, wherever I go, physics has become the lens through which I observe the world. I feel as if I am in a continuous daydream: when I turn while riding my bike, I think about the changes in acceleration and angular momentum; when our cat leaps down from the highest cabinet in the kitchen, I think about the magnitude of gravity and the force generated when the cat's mass collides with the floor; I study how sunlight reflects off the wall through the window and crosses over my pillow; I think about the heat transferred between every surface in my home, community, and the world; I imagine entropy, relentless and eternal, slowly deconstructing everything around me. By the end of my second year of junior high, I realized that physics was no longer just an effort I made during my adolescence to fill the void left by my father's absence. I love physics, just as my parents love the pursuits they shared with me since my childhood; this love is simple and pure. My parents showed me that there were more possibilities in the world, giving me adventure, stories, and imagination. These once defined my life. But before this, I was merely a bystander. Physics was the first thing I discovered for myself, and it felt different. This time, I could chase it.

03 The Gap Narrows#

The history of science is often winding, ironic, and cruel. New ideas are discovered, then discarded, only to have new ideas discovered again. Paradigms that have been considered foundational by generations can sometimes be overturned overnight, often by obvious observational results. Precisely because these observations are too simple, they are more easily overlooked by the most prominent figures in the field, creating conditions for outsiders to initiate revolutions. It is this harmonious yet conflicting rhythm that makes the pursuit of science so dramatic.

Regardless of how our family's story ends, the pen of life has yet to be written. Although we remain poor, although we are still outsiders, and although our future remains uncertain, at least we are no longer alone.

The history of science is often winding, ironic, and cruel. New ideas are discovered, then discarded, only to have new ideas discovered again. Paradigms that have been considered foundational by generations can sometimes be overturned overnight, often by obvious observational results. Precisely because these observations are too simple, they are more easily overlooked by the most prominent figures in the field, creating conditions for outsiders to initiate revolutions. It is this harmonious yet conflicting rhythm that makes the pursuit of science so dramatic.

Regardless of how our family's story ends, the pen of life has yet to be written. Although we remain poor, although we are still outsiders, and although our future remains uncertain, at least we are no longer alone.

04 Mental Exploration#

"Please take a deep breath and let this image wash over your soul." He spoke with precision and a gentle tone, "Those tiny points of light are not stars, nor even star systems. They are entire galaxies, thousands upon thousands of galaxies, so vast that our small brains cannot comprehend. But with tools like the Hubble Telescope, humanity has finally caught a glimpse of the grandeur of the universe. The reason I show you this photo in the last class is that I hope you can forever remember this feeling, always maintain curiosity and courage, and always be willing to ask those seemingly impossible questions. The mirror exposure of the 'Hubble Deep Field' shows us how beautiful the answers can be."

But I began to realize that the charm of physics lies not in equations, nor even in concepts, but in the pursuit and exploration of their symbolic meanings.

"Please take a deep breath and let this image wash over your soul." He spoke with precision and a gentle tone, "Those tiny points of light are not stars, nor even star systems. They are entire galaxies, thousands upon thousands of galaxies, so vast that our small brains cannot comprehend. But with tools like the Hubble Telescope, humanity has finally caught a glimpse of the grandeur of the universe. The reason I show you this photo in the last class is that I hope you can forever remember this feeling, always maintain curiosity and courage, and always be willing to ask those seemingly impossible questions. The mirror exposure of the 'Hubble Deep Field' shows us how beautiful the answers can be."

But I began to realize that the charm of physics lies not in equations, nor even in concepts, but in the pursuit and exploration of their symbolic meanings.

06 Polaris#

"You don't understand what I mean. This has never been your path alone. From the very beginning, this has been our family's path. Whether you are destined to become a scientist, a researcher, or some other profession I cannot imagine, and whether you can make money from it or not, from the moment our plane left Shanghai, our family has been working towards this goal."

07 A Hypothesis#

This matter is the best example, making me deeply understand that the default position of any scientist should be absolute humility; they should realize that no individual's wisdom can be half as powerful as that of unexpected forces.

09 What Lies Beyond Everything#

It only reaffirms the core value of our laboratory: to always respect the complexity of the world and to desire to explore it at all costs. We feel like art enthusiasts touring a museum with a guide, where every new exhibit challenges us while also igniting our awe for the infinite details around us.

Polaris symbolizes the most unique quality of scientists: an insatiable, endless curiosity that is always in opposition to satisfaction. A star in the night sky, a mirage in the distance, a road without end.

It only reaffirms the core value of our laboratory: to always respect the complexity of the world and to desire to explore it at all costs. We feel like art enthusiasts touring a museum with a guide, where every new exhibit challenges us while also igniting our awe for the infinite details around us.

Polaris symbolizes the most unique quality of scientists: an insatiable, endless curiosity that is always in opposition to satisfaction. A star in the night sky, a mirage in the distance, a road without end.

10 Easier Said Than Done#

I thought for a moment and then replied, "I know we've talked about my mother and the impact of caring for her health over the years, but there's another side to this story. Spending so much time in the hospital has been beneficial for me." "What benefits?" "There's something special... I don't know, maybe it can be called 'acts of care,' whether it's the nurse helping my mother sit up or the specialists devising treatment strategies, it all feels very special, filled with humanity. This may be the most humane thing we can do. I can't imagine artificial intelligence replacing it, and I wouldn't want artificial intelligence to replace this. Today, technology plays an important role in sustaining our lives, and I am grateful, but it is no exaggeration to say that the real reason my mother and I have been able to get through all of this is people, people like you."

11 Uncontrollable#

I completely understand my colleague's feelings of weariness. AGI refers to "artificial general intelligence," an extremely complex and flexible form of artificial intelligence that can not only perform narrow tasks like image classification or cross-linguistic text translation but also simulate all human cognitive abilities, such as analysis and creativity. While I cannot pinpoint when this term became a technical term, it certainly was not used in the field of computer science before. After all, "general" intelligence has always been the entire meaning of artificial intelligence from the very beginning; the road ahead is long, but that does not mean we can lower our goals. For us researchers, the new term AGI sounds somewhat redundant. But it rolls off the tongue nicely, allowing the outside world to clearly understand the ultimate goal of our field, and it makes DeepMind stand out in an already competitive ecosystem.

After my grandfather passed away, a part of my father also vanished, leaving only a part of a child behind, which was the only evidence that the world he loved once existed and then disappeared. Therefore, he was determined to keep things the same. Even as he grew up, earned a degree, and eventually became a husband and father, he continued to live the life of that boy in his memories. My father had a warm smile, loved to play silly word games, and refused to take on responsibilities throughout his life, but behind all this lay an incurable pain that still trapped him many years later. All his experiences and suffering shaped his only belief, which became stronger over time: although the capricious and cruel world took away his father, it could never take him away. This world will never take my mother away, nor will it take me away.

I completely understand my colleague's feelings of weariness. AGI refers to "artificial general intelligence," an extremely complex and flexible form of artificial intelligence that can not only perform narrow tasks like image classification or cross-linguistic text translation but also simulate all human cognitive abilities, such as analysis and creativity. While I cannot pinpoint when this term became a technical term, it certainly was not used in the field of computer science before. After all, "general" intelligence has always been the entire meaning of artificial intelligence from the very beginning; the road ahead is long, but that does not mean we can lower our goals. For us researchers, the new term AGI sounds somewhat redundant. But it rolls off the tongue nicely, allowing the outside world to clearly understand the ultimate goal of our field, and it makes DeepMind stand out in an already competitive ecosystem.

After my grandfather passed away, a part of my father also vanished, leaving only a part of a child behind, which was the only evidence that the world he loved once existed and then disappeared. Therefore, he was determined to keep things the same. Even as he grew up, earned a degree, and eventually became a husband and father, he continued to live the life of that boy in his memories. My father had a warm smile, loved to play silly word games, and refused to take on responsibilities throughout his life, but behind all this lay an incurable pain that still trapped him many years later. All his experiences and suffering shaped his only belief, which became stronger over time: although the capricious and cruel world took away his father, it could never take him away. This world will never take my mother away, nor will it take me away.

12 The Next Polaris#

Gaining recognition has never been a good reason to pursue science, but positive feedback from others is always gratifying.

I realized that artificial intelligence should always aim to enhance human capabilities rather than compete with humans. Now, this concept has become the fundamental value of our laboratory.

Just look: large language models are prone to absurd conceptual errors and are eager to fabricate nonsensical statements that sound reasonable. Understanding these facts helps us avoid becoming overly enamored with the capabilities of the models.

Life may be hard, but we have not lost loved ones, nor have we experienced grief and mourning; we have spent all our time together, and I cannot help but feel grateful for that.

The life of a scientist is as much like that of an immigrant and an adventurer; for them, "home" has never been a clear concept. The best work is always born on the edges, where thoughts are forever trapped in transit, explored by strangers on unfamiliar lands, both insiders and outsiders. But this is precisely why we are so powerful. Our unique identities keep us with unique perspectives, granting us the freedom to challenge the status quo.

Gaining recognition has never been a good reason to pursue science, but positive feedback from others is always gratifying.

I realized that artificial intelligence should always aim to enhance human capabilities rather than compete with humans. Now, this concept has become the fundamental value of our laboratory.

Just look: large language models are prone to absurd conceptual errors and are eager to fabricate nonsensical statements that sound reasonable. Understanding these facts helps us avoid becoming overly enamored with the capabilities of the models.

Life may be hard, but we have not lost loved ones, nor have we experienced grief and mourning; we have spent all our time together, and I cannot help but feel grateful for that.

The life of a scientist is as much like that of an immigrant and an adventurer; for them, "home" has never been a clear concept. The best work is always born on the edges, where thoughts are forever trapped in transit, explored by strangers on unfamiliar lands, both insiders and outsiders. But this is precisely why we are so powerful. Our unique identities keep us with unique perspectives, granting us the freedom to challenge the status quo.

Acknowledgments#

As a daughter, a scientist, an immigrant, and a humanitarian, I have seen many different worlds, but the most important world is the one I will not live in, the one built on everything I do now, the one into which I pour all my love and hope, and the one for which I am most grateful. It is because of the existence of this world that everything I do now has meaning. This world is the one my children and their children will inherit. As the era of artificial intelligence approaches, I am grateful to them for allowing me the privilege of being their mother. Being a mother is the most humbling experience for me, and I believe it will always be an experience unique to humanity.

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