ChinaTalk Overfit: NeurIPS Vibes, Research Doesn't Matter, OpenAI Cooked?
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Dec 10, 2025 Nathan and Jasmine share lively tales from NeurIPS San Diego, highlighting its massive turnout and intense student hustle. They dive into the vibrant nightlife and their unforgettable boat party. The group discusses the stark pay disparity between industry and grad students, as well as the challenges of academic publishing. Sparks fly as they debate OpenAI's prospects and compare business models in AI. With quirky poster highlights and speculative growth plays, this conversation is a deep dive into the tech landscape post-conference.
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Poster-Session Prank Sets Conference Tone
- Jordan and hosts joked about stealing an ORALS flag from a poster table at NeurIPS as a playful prank.
- The scene set the tone for conference hijinks and informal poster-session culture among attendees.
Wealth Gap Looms Large At NeurIPS
- NeurIPS mixes extreme wealth and struggling grad students under one roof, creating social tension.
- The conference highlights how a few well-paid researchers coexist with many underfunded students chasing internships.
AI PhD Requires Exceptional Commitment
- Industry pays outsized salaries that pull top talent out of academia, widening opportunity costs for PhD students.
- Nathan warns the AI PhD is only worth it if you are deeply committed given lucrative industry alternatives.
