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How the ‘Godmother of AI’ Turned a Cleaning Business Into a Billion-Dollar Startup

A teenager managing a family cleaning business now leads a billion-dollar AI revolution. Her story proves how relentless curiosity can rewrite the future of technology.

In this image we can see there is a beautiful view of buildings, trees and clouds in the sky.
In this image we can see there is a beautiful view of buildings, trees and clouds in the sky.

How the ‘Godmother of AI’ Turned a Cleaning Business Into a Billion-Dollar Startup

Fei-Fei Li, often called the 'Godmother of AI,' has built a remarkable career from humble beginnings. After moving to the U.S. from China at 15, she helped her family run a cleaning business in New Jersey. Now, her latest startup, World Labs, is already valued at over $1 billion.

Li’s journey began when she immigrated to America as a teenager. While still in school, she took on key roles in her parents’ cleaning company, managing customer calls and daily operations. Her early exposure to problem-solving laid the groundwork for her future in technology.

From a family business in New Jersey to a billion-dollar AI venture, Li’s path highlights the power of curiosity and persistence. Her focus on world models suggests a future where AI interacts with environments more naturally. The technology could soon reshape industries from robotics to autonomous systems.

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