One of AI's most influential researchers is joining AMD in an $8 billion deal
AMD is betting big on "world models" that could power robots, factories, and other physical AI systems. It's acquiring Fei-Fei Li's World Labs.
AI's leading researcher, Fei-Fei Li, is joining chipmaker AMD in a significant $8.2 billion all-stock deal, according to recent reports. World Labs, the San Francisco-based startup founded by Li in 2024, is acquiring World Labs in an all-stock deal valued at roughly $8.2 billion. World Labs specializes in creating AI models for 3D environments, robotics, and simulation, focusing on what are known as "world models" – AI systems capable of generating and reconstructing interactive 3D environments from text, images, and video.
These advanced models have potential applications in robot training, factory simulation, and scientific research. Li, often hailed as the "godmother of AI," gained prominence for developing ImageNet, a massive database of labeled images that propelled computer vision advancements. She subsequently served as Google Cloud's chief scientist for AI and machine learning and co-directed Stanford's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.
In a press release, AMD CEO Lisa Su highlighted the acquisition's importance, stating that it will provide the chipmaker with deeper insights into the evolution of cutting-edge AI models, aiding the development of chips and computing systems necessary to power them. As part of the agreement, Li will assume the role of executive vice president and chief scientist at AMD, reporting to CEO Lisa Su.
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