What tech company will be the first to stand up and say that gutting the NSF is bad actually? The economic argument seems pretty clear Less NSF --> fewer PhD students --> fewer researchers --> smaller AI tech pipeline --> slower progress --> less competitive globally - ThreadSky

markriedl.bsky.social • 23 days ago

What tech company will be the first to stand up and say that gutting the NSF is bad actually?

The economic argument seems pretty clear

Less NSF --> fewer PhD students --> fewer researchers --> smaller AI tech pipeline --> slower progress --> less competitive globally

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brianckeegan.com•23 days ago

Counterpoint: $10B could buy a lot of GB200s. /s

markriedl.bsky.social•23 days ago

barik.net•22 days ago

Right now I'm not sure if there is any big tech company that is able to think beyond the next fiscal quarter. I would not be expecting any profiles in courage to show up anytime soon.

chrisbrockett.bsky.social•23 days ago

I fear that many companies may write off what is going on as a short-term bump, and not affecting tech in the long run. What they don't, or won't, see is that ideological censorship will destroy research into the social dimensions of computing that will be increasingly crucial for any kind of AI.

markriedl.bsky.social•22 days ago

Agree 100% that this will damage the human-centered computing perspective that they will end up needing more than ever in the long run (they’re needing it now but not recognizing it).

But it hurts all aspects of CS, Math, Engineering, physics, etc. too. Need to speak to their myopic views

markriedl.bsky.social•23 days ago

Or does Google, Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, Apple, etc. think they can continue to innovate without people with graduate degrees?

Meh, they've drunk the right-wing kool-aid, or are too cowed to step up.

markriedl.bsky.social•23 days ago

Maybe big tech thinks they will not be affected?

Fewer research grants also means fewer MS students and undergrads engaged in research too.

It means fewer faculty to teach and lower-quality B.S. grads.

Train them yourselves? Universities are government subsidized workforce training.

markriedl.bsky.social•23 days ago

I'm going to double-down on what a ridiculously good deal public universities are *for big tech*. Four years of training, critical thinking practice, and problem-solving practice.

If universities weren't working, big tech cos would be recruiting straight from high-schools.

markriedl.bsky.social•23 days ago

Easy enough to forget that faculty at R1 schools need funding to do research. We only get 9-months salary unless we have grants. Without that, many will quit. Huge turn-over, smaller pool of qualified faculty hires, reduced quality of education.

markriedl.bsky.social•23 days ago

In accelerationist dreams, the productivity gains of AI are such that universities will become less important. That AI will do the research and science needed for companies to innovate. Willing to make that bet right now? Willing to have your lunch eaten by other countries that don't make that bet?

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