hard tech is the way to go

Software is in decline. It gets slower faster than hardware gets faster (known as Wirth's law). Moreover, software is in decline purpose-wise. We get hooked on software that makes us spend more and more time on it, makes us less focused, and more miserable.

Unfortunately, tech is often associated with software described above, and is, rightfully, hated. At the same time, we live in the future, where we have DNA printers, can have a look at COVID vaccine code online, and can bring back rockets that have been to space.

The stuff I described in the paragraph above does not grow on trees. It's a result of overcoming hard scientific and engineering challenges done by a bunch of people organised together, known as hard tech. It seems to me, that working for a hard tech company is considered to be less prestigious for a CS department graduate. Starting a hard tech startup is also harder (pun intended) as it needs more time and money to do basic research.

I think this is unfortunate as hard tech companies provide a whole bunch of benefits that pure digital startups usually lack:

• Clear purpose with an obvious value to the society: you are problem-first, there's no BS, and you can use any available methods to solve your problem. If you solve the problem, the humanity benefits from it.
• Bringing the future you would like your children to live in: do you want your children to do cross-planetary travel? Do you want them doomscroll three hours a day?
• Working in cross-disciplinary teams: you not only learn a bunch of interesting stuff, but you can build something none of the communities can build alone. We see a lot of exciting stuff in the AI for science research these days.