Communications of the ACM
Making Decisions That the Computers Cannot
Given the global private-sector demand for data scientists, universities could struggle to retain their intellectual capital.
Brain drain to the corporate sector has universities worried. The next generation of scientists risks losing its teachers. This year, Oxford University had only 26 places for new Ph.D. students in computer science. Given the global private-sector demand for data scientists, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and Oxford could have a hard time retaining their intellectual capital.
It is true that most of the academics who "leave" for the private sector retain significant ties to their universities. It is a standard practice for U.S. academics, who often flip between the public and private sectors. Universities are good at incubating ideas. Companies are good at selling them. They need to work together rather than fighting over talent.
There is a drawback to this approach, however. The hybrid public-private identities of top scientists could bias discussions about the societal and moral implications of new technologies. Experts are scarce. If all the leaders in the key fields are affiliated with companies whose profits are directly affected by the regulatory environment, who is left to speak for the common good?
Tech companies' record on balancing public and private interests in research is not encouraging.
From Financial Times
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