Pressure, a lot of researchers believe LLMs will be able to self-improve. It's a good time right now to make some extra money.

I, personally, don't think there will be a better time for researchers to make so much money in a few years in any future of LLMs.

AGI around the corner. Comparatively little point educating people instead of machines

If someone knew AGI was around the corner they'd be buying an island and a yacht not taking on a job.

But surely being part of the birth of AGI would be more interesting than sitting on a yacht, which you can do for the rest of your life post AGI?

The implications of what AGI would do to the economy has a high chance of mass civil unrest. Just the announcement could set it off. If you had the resources you won’t want to be around for it.