Does an AI PhD still make sense as the field accelerates?

One writer says rapid AI progress makes this a great time to pursue a PhD in AI. Another favors independent research into advanced AI’s societal impacts, inside or outside academia, but questions whether the traditional PhD format suits many people; a PhD with an open-minded adviser could still be a great idea. A third argues that, on average across people, a PhD remains the best path to interesting work and earning a lot of money.