I’m a first-year psychology Ph.D. student who has become quite down about the academic path. AI and LLMs, in particular, seem poised to make reading, writing, and storing information (i.e., a lot of what academics do) much less important. I also recently heard a talk where this team found that GPT-4 outperformed experts in predicting the results of unpublished psychology experiments. I have difficulty believing that in 20 years, there will still be a robust job market for academics. However, as I consider changing paths, I also think many other fields will experience the same. I have no clue what to pursue right now.
What skills, careers, and experiences should young EAs pursue as the AI revolution looms?
I’m a first-year psychology Ph.D. student who has become quite down about the academic path. AI and LLMs, in particular, seem poised to make reading, writing, and storing information (i.e., a lot of what academics do) much less important. I also recently heard a talk where this team found that GPT-4 outperformed experts in predicting the results of unpublished psychology experiments. I have difficulty believing that in 20 years, there will still be a robust job market for academics. However, as I consider changing paths, I also think many other fields will experience the same. I have no clue what to pursue right now.