What AI startup founders thought about Stanford’s 'wake-up call' report

When Stanford’s Human-Centered AI group released a massive annual report this week, Upstarts gathered a few New York-based AI founders to see how they'd react.

Upstarts talking AI benchmarks with Stanford HAI. Given enough time, humans still outperform — for now. Credit: Libby Shoemaker

“I certainly hope it’s a wake-up call.”

It’s Monday night at the offices of Union Square Ventures in Manhattan, and Upstarts is chatting with Russell Wald, the executive director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI.

Wald and HAI’s director of research, Vanessa Parli, have just presented some of the highlights of their group’s eighth annual 2025 AI Index Report to a group of AI-minded startup founders and investors in a discussion led by Upstarts Media.

Wald’s been fielding questions from TV show hosts, policymakers and corporate leaders all day. Upstarts is curious what takeaway, out of an overwhelming array of facts and charts in HAI’s 456 page report, has gotten the biggest response.

“What’s really buzzing is the fact that China’s catching up,” Wald answers. “For people deep in the field, maybe it shouldn’t be that surprising. But talking to people who aren’t in AI, it’s taken them aback how fast that gap has closed.”