> we will replace most PIDs with a small neural network for almost all industrial applications

A similar argument was made in the early 90's/late 80's for using Fuzzy Logic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuzzy_logic) instead of classical control algorithms, including PID.

I'm sure many here will remember the late Bob Pease of National Semiconductor writing articles[1] against this, mainly due to the inability of the designer to predict the behavior of the system. Believe it or not, being able to logically reason about how an algorithm that's controlling tens of thousands of $$$ of product in process is actually important.

[1] https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/embedded/digit...