Thanks for the answer! I've always been fascinated with intelligence and the brain, but most stuff in machine learning / AI just seems so disconnected from actually trying to understand intelligence or the brain on any level, and has become it's own thing more akin to pure optimization but with less understanding of the inner process mathematically, where the word AI and related are just thrown around without any meaning, in order to suck up interest and funds. Maybe it is scary for people to admit, the this whole thing built around "AI" as it is referred to in popular terms today, is not the only way to go, and does not have infinite potential. Maybe be more humble in what it can do, and simultaneously be open to other paths of research, even if it means we are starting with not knowing that much at all. But being moderate might not be the best way to ensure capital, unfortunately.
I never forget my stint in a research group somewhat related to AI, where the professor spoke in front of an audience of politicians to get funding, and just threw around bullshit terms and mixed in, what is in reality, words describing very technical subjects which require some context to actually understand. Every one of the politicians just sat there, nodding, like they understood. While we watched from telly in our office. I think part of my faith in our government died that day, together with a healthy dose of respect for public research. At least it taught me to be way more picky in what science represents in our media and society. It's interesting how on some level, popularity contests never really go away... I really yearn for some kind of structure, where income for research is not based on popularity and internal/external power struggles, but somehow more diverse and fairly shared. TBH it has a lot to do with general education and interest, while at the same time, somehow overturning the current structure where in reality, research groups face fairly hard and unforgiving adversarial conditions, instead of more cooperative ones. Oh well, resources are not infinite, but how we choose to use them can be debated.
Sounds like an awesome place to work! I'm sure if you left on good terms, you could always return. But running your own business is usually a passion project, so I hope it works out and it won't be necessary! Also being a dad, it's easier to prioritize your children, once you can manage your schedule more freely. I'm not a parent myself, but jumped the gap on 30 this year heh, and from what I know from my earlier colleagues who have children, and are mindful of how they spend their time, you become way more averse to bullshit with the little time you have, for your own stuff and how you provide for your family. I've always loved to do research and development, it doesn't really matter what it is, so I'm considering joining a normal SWE company too after UNI, and see where the future takes me, a bit akin to what you are doing.
