The podcast explores career paths in AI research and quantitative finance, contrasting the required skill sets, work-life balance, and compensation structures. Nimit Sohoni, an AI researcher with experience as a quant at Citadel, shares his insights, noting that while a PhD isn't always necessary for AI research, it can open doors to more exploratory roles. He emphasizes that a key skill developed during a PhD is identifying the right research problems. Sohoni also compares the cultures of finance and tech, highlighting the secrecy and high-pressure environment in finance, including non-compete agreements and garden leave. He advises aspiring AI researchers to focus on building strong technical skills and math intuition. The discussion also covers the competitive landscape of voice AI, comparing Cartesia to Eleven Labs, and delves into the technical aspects of state space models versus transformers.
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