Fragmentation of AI research: a blog series

Dec 7, 2023 ·

The fragmentation of AI research is a growing problem in the field of artificial intelligence. While there has been an increasing amount of work done over the past decade, it is becoming harder and harder to make sense of it all. In this blog series, we will discuss the causes and implications of fragmentation in the AI world.

Fragmentation occurs when different fields and subfields of AI are explored independently without reference to each other. This can result in divergent or parallel development paths, with corresponding resources wasted on redundant studies. It also leads to difficulty in synthesizing the overall progress of the field and in seeing the potential for breakthroughs outside of individual areas of study.

There are several contributing factors that drive fragmentation. First, as AI research continues to grow, so too does the complexity of its technical landscape. This makes it difficult for researchers to understand the full scope of the field and contributes to the lack of collaboration between different areas. Second, AI research tends to be heavily funded, resulting in highly specialized teams working on specific problems and solutions. This leads to further specialization and fragmentation. Third, many projects in AI require significant computational power, which is often expensive and out of reach for smaller teams or individuals. This also limits the potential for collaboration and leads to increased fragmentation.

Fragmentation can have serious consequences for AI research. Without an understanding of how different fields interact and how they can benefit from each other, progress may be slower than it should be. Furthermore, if the same research is repeated in multiple areas, valuable time and resources are wasted. Finally, the lack of collaboration and integration makes it more difficult to identify cross-sectoral synergies and potential breakthroughs.

In conclusion, the fragmentation of AI research is a growing problem, leading to duplication of effort, slower progress and reduced potential for breakthroughs. There are numerous causes for this fragmentation, from the complexity of the field to limited resources and funding. To prevent further fragmentation, researchers must strive for greater collaboration and integration in their work. By creating a unified vision, researchers can find synergy between fields and develop new approaches that go beyond individual areas of study.