There's a party atmosphere in the hallowed halls of science. The International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) in Vienna is not just a meeting place for researchers, but a veritable vanity fair for the tech industry.
Where 30 pioneers once discussed the future of artificial intelligence, there are now almost 10,000 participants.
What happened?
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| The ICML is like a fairground for the recruitment of Google, Meta and Microsoft. |
From niche to mainstream
Thomas G. Dietterich, a veteran of the scene, sums it up: "For a long time, nobody paid any attention to us, but now everything is suddenly revolving around us." The turning point came in 2012, when a breakthrough in image recognition opened the door to a new era of AI. Since then, huge sums of money have been pouring into research, and the tech giants are vying for the brightest minds.
The big advertising
The ICML is like a recruitment fair. Google, Meta and Microsoft host exclusive parties, while financial firms and venture funds cast their nets for promising talent. Even newcomers like the French start-up Mistral "can't afford not to be here".
Between science and commerce
But the gold rush also has its dark side. The once tranquil conference had to distance itself from excessive parties and problematic behavior. Today, efforts are made to promote diversity and inclusion, with special workshops for underrepresented groups.
The big questions of the future of AI
While "large language models" such as ChatGPT dominate the discussions, critical voices are also being raised. Is AI research ready for its growing social responsibility? Topics such as AI security and ethical questions are coming into focus.
A discipline in transition
The ICML 2024 impressively shows that AI is no longer a niche topic. It is shaping our world - from self-driving cars to credit checks. The community is faced with the challenge of not only delivering technical brilliance, but also assuming social responsibility. The AI gold rush has only just begun, and the ICML is its most dazzling stage.