[flashgordon]

Same thing happened to me. Yes ml wasn't a hot area then (20 years ago) but computer graphics, linear regression (ie old school statistics used for supply chain), signal processing for audio and video were all got them but their applicability was never pointed out let alone emphasized. I was just lucky that I was interested in these areas on my own so the linkages thankfully "clicked". Is it me or did profs back then just do research and teaching in a bubble?