[orbifold]

The quote should be

"The best minds that I know are thinking about how to make people click ads."

There is a considerable number of exceedingly intelligent people in pure mathematics and (theoretical) physics that don't work for Google, Facebook etc. and never would. Those that do often have nothing to do with Ads even three to four edges removed (think Martinis or the people at MSR).

[ska]

This is true, but don't overestimate it. I know first rate math & physics types who gave up on academic work and now work at a FAANG or similar; and I know second rate ones who stayed. So it's a mixed bag.