My experience (working in industry) is machine learning projects tend to go something like this: Someone on the company board has just read a pop sci article

My experience (working in industry) is machine learning projects tend to go something like this: Someone on the company board has just read a pop sci article about "machine learning" and now as a result the company has engaged some expensive consultants to advise us on "potential machine learning opportunities." The consultant spends maybe a day or two touring one of the company's plants and has only the most broad and high level view of how our industrial process actually works. The consultant then promises the world "machine learning is great, you can use it here, here and here for sure. It will save you millions..." It gets the board members excited. So the company picks some toy problem and gives the consultant and his team a six month contract to deliver a proof of concept. The deadline passes a solution is delivered - it is underwhelming. The contract is not extended. edit: All cynicism aside I appreciate the possibilities but for ML to succeed the developers really need to be embedded/integrated into the company have a good understanding of problem space and fundamentals. Not really something you can outsource easily and expect to succeed.