Sails and Anchors: The Complementarity of Exploratory and Exploitative Scientists in Knowledge Creation
In: RESPOL-D-24-01838
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In: RESPOL-D-24-01838
SSRN
In: AI & society: the journal of human-centred systems and machine intelligence
ISSN: 1435-5655
Abstract
The migration of artificial intelligence (AI) researchers from academia to industry has recently sparked concerns about its implications for scientific progress. Can academia retain enough talent to shape AI advancements and counterbalance the growing influence of corporate AI labs? Analyzing OpenAlex data, we find a significant transition of premier talent to industry roles over the past decade, particularly to major tech firms. Young, highly cited scholars from leading institutions are the most likely to make this move. Following the transition, their research tends to show reduced novelty and impact. This industry-dominant shift in AI research highlights worries of an "AI brain drain", the sidelining of exploratory science for commercial interests, and the potential misalignment with societal goals.