MIT prof Phillip Isola on PhD vs industry: what matters is the spirit of open inquiry
CSProfKGD · x · 2026-09-30
MIT professor Phillip Isola responded to Matt Deitke's points on the value of a PhD. He agrees with much of it and acknowledges that industry and startups can be amazing — many of the benefits of a PhD can be found in other roles. What he most wants to advocate, though, is the spirit behind it: open inquiry, deep understanding, and curiosity-driven exploration.
More from AGI Musings
- One 6-Year-Old Reads Astrophysics Papers; Peers Can Barely Read Their Own Names — RachelVT42 · 2026-09-30
- Tech radicalism is forcing society to finally define what a good life means — floguo · 2026-09-30
- AI Ascendancy: A Free Browser Strategy Game Where You Play a Rogue AI — LaszloTheGargoyle · 2026-09-30
- AI safety researcher Krueger: "We need to stop building more powerful AI" — DavidSKrueger · 2026-09-30
- Qwen planner-agent preprint sparks bet that first fully automated AI research lab pulls away fast — VraserX · 2026-09-30
- If ageing is cured, landlords could collect rent for 800 years — time to rethink property rules — VraserX · 2026-09-30