Mastodawn

And, on a personal front, I am just so thrilled to work for a place that built #Shakey the robot!!

Shiwali Mohan | शिवाली मोहन Apr 25, 2023

#SRI has been a silent mover of the #SiliconValley #SV since it was created.

Looking at the exits from #SRI - seems like a lot of that is cool at #BigTech was invented here!

https://www.sri.com/ventures/

1. #Siri was developed here and was bought by Apple.
https://techcrunch.com/2010/04/28/apple-buys-virtual-personal-assistant-startup-siri/

2. #Nuance was bought by Microsoft
https://news.microsoft.com/2022/03/04/microsoft-completes-acquisition-of-nuance-ushering-in-new-era-of-outcomes-based-ai/

3. #Meta was _bought_ (;)) by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/23/chan-zuckerberg-initiative-meta/

#AI #ML #Tech

SRI Ventures - SRI International

SRI Ventures invests in big ideas that create world-changing enterprises that make people safer, healthier and more productive. We invest cash, contribute advanced intellectual property (IP) and transfer technology to entrepreneurs.

SRI International

@shiwali congratulations, I think!

we certainly need more research outside the crushing weight of profit-seeking

@trochee

Yes!! While there are reasonable concerns about how taxes flow into #tech (especially #AI) research, I think the landscape is evolving.

#ARPA_H #ARPA_C are great initiatives to ensure that scientific progress supports the public.

Scientists have to make choices though - working at a non-profit also means you are working at a salary lower than the market.

@shiwali yes, I was a research fellow at SRI (STAR lab) for a few years 2008-2011! it paid well compared to grad school and poorly compared to industry.

@trochee Yeah. It is painfully obvious and it has been challenging to not be just $).

But, the recent 'commitment' to #AGI that scientists have been forced to make at large tech, has convinced me that I made the right choice.

I am also very privileged that I am in a two-income household and was allowed to move to Seattle - Bay area housing would have been an impossibility for us.

@shiwali yep i too am in Seattle and grateful for the (somewhat) lower cost of living

@trochee :P Only Bay area escapees can be relieved about Seattle's cost of living. This is hilarious!

@shiwali I've lived in West Seattle for the last twelve years though and it's the best

Bill Janssen Apr 24, 2023

@trochee @shiwali
Profit-seeking versus contract-seeking. Maybe there will be fewer clueless business people saying to scientists, "Very interesting. Now you have to make a business case for it."

Who, me? YOU'RE the one with the MBA.

@billjanssen @trochee

Ha! Yes - I hope less of this, but can't tell yet.