Fei-Fei Li says she runs her AI startup like a 'tiger mom'

Fei Fei Li said she runs her AI startup like a strict and demanding parent.

Bloomberg/Getty Images Fei-Fei Li said running her own startup makes her feel like a 'tiger mom.' World Labs, cofounded by Fei-Fei Li in 2024, focuses on AI's interaction with 3D environments.

Fei-Fei Li has previously said that she feels like she becomes a mentor even in job interviews.

Fei-Fei Li says running an AI startup has brought out her "tiger mom" side.

In an interview with Bloomberg released on Wednesday, the Stanford professor, known for creating ImageNet and often called the " Godmother of AI ," said that her seniority at the startup has put her in a bit of a parental role.

Li cofounded World Labs in 2024.

The startup is developing "world models" designed to help AI understand and interact with 3D environments.

Earlier this year, the company announced $1 billion in new funding from investors including AMD, Autodesk, and Nvidia.

"I'm by far the most senior in the company," Li said.

"From my co-founders to my engineers, and researchers, and scientists, they're so talented, but they're also young." "I do feel like a mom," she added.

"And oftentimes I feel like a tiger mom.

I do run this shop as, I would say, high standard." The term "tiger mom" generally describes a highly demanding and strict parent who pushes their children to work hard, be disciplined, and strive for high achievement .

It was popularized by American author and Yale Law School professor Amy Chua in her 2011 memoir, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," which detailed her strict approach to raising her daughters, including demanding top grades and intensive music practice.

Li previously said she finds herself taking on the role of a mentor with younger people — and she's shared some anecdotes about AI's impact on students and early careers.