The ratio of explore /exploit depends on what your goals are. If it's just to bang out a PhD in applied ML then perhaps, but if you're in it for the long haul

The ratio of explore /exploit depends on what your goals are. If it's just to bang out a PhD in applied ML then perhaps, but if you're in it for the long haul it's well worth it. It would unlock a whole bunch of research directions and catching back up to the field with solid math skills in hand would be quick. If you pay attention to the leaders in AI, they're mostly applied mathematicians in disguise.