I agree, but it's the same problem with all basic research. There are no guarantees of results and it can take a long time. So much of it gets done with public resources.
In fact much of the deep learning advances we (including Google) enjoy today were done with Canadian (University of Montreal) and European (IDSIA) taxpayers money over the last couple of decades
In fact much of the deep learning advances we (including Google) enjoy today were done with Canadian (University of Montreal) and European (IDSIA) taxpayers money over the last couple of decades