[dsacco]

This has been the case for a long time in applied mathematics and computer science (not so much pure mathematics). There are hedge funds using work that is not only unpublished, but also unknown to research labs like FAIR and Google Brain. The easiest way to be scouted by one of those funds is to publish research that looks like you’re on the verge of re-discovering their work.

[joshuamorton]

Do you have any proof of this, or is this or is it just your opinion that the comparatively smaller groups of researchers at hedge funds are well ahead of academia and the rest of industry?

[dsacco]

1. I don't have proof I can share publicly,

2. It's not just my opinion, and

3. I didn't say they're "well ahead" unilaterally.

This isn't unique to finance; industry labs in tech also often have novel results in applied mathematics and computer science that are ahead of academia and other industry labs. You don't have to believe me but it's not exactly a controversial topic. Not everything is published or patented.