Submitting to Top AI Conferences as an Independent Researcher: A Reality Check
Publishing at a top conference as an independent researcher is possible, but the numbers are harsh: single-author papers have fallen to a single-digit share, the average author count has risen from 3 to 5, and the top 20 institutions account for 35-50% of authorships. Andreas Madsen spent eight months working without pay, earned an ICLR Spotlight, and still ended up returning for a PhD. This article examines real cases, evidence of review bias, and viable paths for researchers without a large lab behind them.