My first time at a major ACL venue. A gigantic convention center near the UN headquarters. ACL feels like something important. However, questions emerged about whether academic researchers are becoming “corporate drones” and whether industry is steering ACL research directions. Eduard Hovy, one of ACL’s founders, heavily criticized this trend and the publication of “LLM junk papers”: research that naively applies LLMs to demonstrate capabilities. Is what we are doing actually worth it?
Outside the conference, I explored Vienna and visited the Albertina Museum. A nice contrast to spending most of the day surrounded by papers, posters, and talks. Surprisingly, they had an after-party, which I joined at the O-Club. A completely different kind of conference experience than I envisioned.
At a ramen spot in a gentrifying quarter, a long queue stretched along the sidewalk. Naturally, we stood patiently in line, unwilling to settle for the second-best ramen restaurant in town.
Modern high-rises with tinted balconies overlook communal gardens and open walking paths where residents grow their own plants.