SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) is thrilled to announce its newest One City One Book title, the memoir The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI by Dr. Fei-Fei Li. This selection marks the 20th anniversary of the One City One Book program, marking two decades of community reading and conversation.

In The Worlds I See, renowned computer scientist Li traces her journey from a childhood in China to becoming a leading voice in artificial intelligence. Her story reflects on resilience, identity, the importance of mentorship in STEM fields and the ethical responsibilities of technology and innovation. The book was named one of Financial Times’ Best Books of 2023, and technologist and Nobel Prize winner Geoff Hinton called the book “an urgent, clear-eyed account of the awesome potential—and danger—of the AI technology that [Li] helped to unleash and her call for action and collective responsibility…desperately needed at this pivotal moment in history."

“The One City One Book program brings us together through meaningful, shared dialogue,” said Becca Prowda, First Lady of San Francisco. “As a lifelong reader, I’ve seen how one remarkable story can spark important discussions and build community. This year, that story enables a timely discussion, centering an immigrant’s contributions to the emerging field of AI. I’m proud that San Francisco has continued this tradition for 20 years and continues to celebrate reading as a cornerstone of life in our city.”

San Franciscans are invited to participate in book clubs at SFPL locations throughout the month of November, leading up to the headliner event on Dec. 17, an author talk featuring Dr. Li and Adam Lashinsky, editor-at-large for the SF Standard.

“San Francisco has always been the city of pioneers, innovators and inventors, as well as dreamers, creators and humanists. Dr. Li’s story is both a fascinating, intimate first-person perspective of the curiosity and determination of a scientist at the forefront of the development of artificial intelligence, as well as a powerful reminder that true innovation thrives best when guided by ethics,” said Michael Lambert, City Librarian.

This year’s One City One Book is also part of SF’s inaugural AI Week, taking place Dec. 11–17, 2025. Presented by the City’s Emerging Technologies Division of the Department of Technology, this is a citywide celebration of San Francisco as a hub for artificial intelligence, bringing together City staff, technologists and residents at a pivotal moment of innovation. Across the week, participants will explore new tools, tackle civic challenges and co-create solutions that leverage AI for both practical and creative applications. With a focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, SF AI Week emphasizes responsible AI adoption, aligning technology with the City’s values and creating opportunities for communities to shape a future where AI benefits all San Franciscans.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Public Library to bring San Franciscans together around responsible, ethical and equitable AI innovation,” said City CIO Mike Makstman. “The inaugural AI Week — alongside One City One Book events across the City — will spark powerful conversations and collaborations between residents, technologists and City staff at a pivotal moment in both AI and San Francisco’s story. As we explore how AI can strengthen public services, we’re inviting the community to help shape solutions that put people first and ensure technology serves everyone responsibly.” 

The idea for One City One Book began in 2004, when local cultural leaders approached then-City Librarian Susan Hildreth with the vision of creating a citywide reading initiative. Inspired by similar programs in Seattle and Chicago, SFPL embraced the idea, recognizing the City’s deep literary culture, strong public library system and high levels of civic engagement. With early support from Mayor Gavin Newsom and funding from local foundations and the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, the program officially launched in 2005.

Since then, One City One Book has become a cornerstone of San Francisco’s literary life, inviting readers across the city to come together each year through books, dialogue and shared experience. All spring and summer long, the Library has encouraged patrons to  celebrate 20 years of One City One Book by reading all 19 past titles before the 20th title announcement.

Throughout November and December, The Worlds I See will be the focus of citywide programs, discussion and events exploring the book’s complex themes.

For more information, visit sfpl.org/onecityonebook.

Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Author of The Worlds I See, in Conversation With Adam Lashinsky, Editor-at-Large for SF Standard – Dec. 17, 6 p.m., Main Library, Koret Auditorium. Free. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Book sales and signing with Dr. Li will follow the event.

Dr. Fei-Fei Li is the Sequoia Professor in the Computer Science Department at Stanford University and Co-Director of Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI). She previously led Stanford’s AI Lab and served as Vice President at Google, where she was Chief Scientist of AI/ML at Google Cloud. She is also co-founder and CEO of World Labs, an AI company focused on spatial intelligence and generative AI.

Internationally recognized as one of the pioneers of modern artificial intelligence, Dr. Li is the inventor of ImageNet, a landmark project that helped launch the deep learning revolution. She has published more than 400 scientific papers and continues to shape the field through research in computer vision, machine learning and AI for healthcare.

In addition to her scientific achievements, Dr. Li has advised national and international leaders on the ethical development of AI, from the U.S. Senate to the United Nations. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Adam Lashinsky is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author and seasoned commentator with more than 30 years covering technology, finance and global business. He is editor at large for the San Francisco Standard and a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, with work also appearing in The Information, Airmail News and Business Insider.