Passive income: NO

Becoming a Quantitative AI Researcher can potentially lead to passive income, but it is not a common occurrence for most individuals pursuing this side hustle. Setting up systems like automation and outsourcing is crucial to achieving passive income in this field. While there are success stories of researchers earning passively, they are often outliers rather than the norm. It requires a high level of expertise, dedication, and ongoing effort to reach a point where income becomes truly passive. Many aspiring researchers may find it challenging to scale their operations to this level of automation and efficiency. It is realistic for a select few to achieve passive income as a Quantitative AI Researcher, but it is not guaranteed for everyone.