I was going to recommend finding a job in the AI field. This will give you real-world experience -- which will come in handy when you (later) start your own c

I was going to recommend finding a job in the AI field. This will give you real-world experience -- which will come in handy when you (later) start your own company. It will give you credibility with investors (which you'll need). But, most importantly: you'll meet professional-caliber people who are already working in that field. (Part of your problem seems to be finding the right "network" of people to work with -- and for better or worse, a lot of networking happens through your co-workers.) The only other route that comes to mind: AI conferences. There'll you'll also meet people who are working on AI at a professional level (as well as AI companies that are hiring). Good luck!