I think it's always been the case that if industry really gets interested in making progress in some particular area, they make it, and way faster than academia

I think it's always been the case that if industry really gets interested in making progress in some particular area, they make it, and way faster than academia ever could. Not just in computer science but also in fields like chemistry or engineering. Academia is great for doing basic science where there is no profit motive for industry to do something about it. That's what the niche/"few care about" sections talk about, where IMO the strength of academia lies. computer science is I think in general comparatively in a good position compared to other sciences in how easy it is to get funded.