If you really want to work on machine learning, do a PhD. If you have a bit of experience and if you are good at it, it should be very easy to find a paid posit

If you really want to work on machine learning, do a PhD. If you have a bit of experience and if you are good at it, it should be very easy to find a paid position. In academia, especially during your PhD, you are very free to work on your own thing (depending on the professor whose group you join).