Yann LeCun of AI / Meta fame put out a short piece on “how to build a vibrant technology industry” (local copy) focusing on the significance of basic research and the opportunities afforded to other countries than the U.S. right now.
It is mostly about academia, how the U.S. system (still) is better than others, and what’s wrong with Europe. I have a lot of quibbles: Yes, German salaries for professors are a pittance (but having time for consulting and startups makes it reasonable). Yes, administrative overhead for grants is there (but it is compensated for in other ways). Yes, teaching load is high (but most professors delegate the tedious stuff to their Ph.D students sadly). And so on. Certainly, the German system simply works differently.
My main reaction to the article is a different one, though. The idea that all basic research is good and equal is flawed. There is a large part of basic research that will never amount to anything and only indulges those in love with their work irrespective of societal need and value. And if your answer is that we can’t predict what is going to be more valuable I’m glad if you are not in a position of defining research funding programs. Too much money and effort is wasted on basic, in my mind frivolous, research.
The real reason for why Germany is lagging is the lack of a sense of urgency that we need to pull together. Everyone is still fighting for their own niche and not lifting their head above their particular interests. Growing wealth disparity has too many of the less fortunate object this disparity and not be willing to pitch in (like in realizing their governmental pensions are doomed). Too many of the rich keep fantasizing that their success was mostly their achievement and increasing the wealth disparity is their holy duty. In game theory words, we are playing the prisoner’s dilemma, but are not collaborating for the long run.
Of course, I’m not the only one to see this and there are various efforts to mitigate this complacency. Still, it needs broader societal consensus and a reawakening of the drive of the early twentieth century or the after-WW II years, and that isn’t there yet. I fear it will only get worse before it gets better.
My biggest worry is that there will be a fascist government before broad societal recognition to pull together kicks in. More basic research, even if directed well, won’t change much about this. Ironically, it is this building of a sense of urgency, pulling together, and overcoming complacency that would increase societal well-being in the mid-to-long run and also keep the fascists at bay.
Leave a Reply