There’s an AI ‘brain drain’ in academia

Move over, academia – the AI industry is making it rain for PhD grads. According to Stanford’s 2021 AI Index Report, the number of new AI PhDs diving into the AI industry post-graduation has been on a steady incline, while the share entering academia is dwindling. With companies like OpenAI and Google waving salaries in the range of $700,000 to $900,000 in the faces of new researchers, it’s no wonder academia is feeling the burn. A 2019 survey found that close to 100 AI faculty members fled North American universities for the allure of industry jobs, and esteemed institutions like Carnegie Mellon and the University of Washington suffered significant faculty departures. The AI industry is like the Pied Piper, luring away top academic talent with the promise of hefty compensation, leaving academia singing the blues.