I'm looking for honest, realistic advice from people working in AI research, mathematics, physics, or related technical fields.
I'm a prospective university student planning to study abroad, and my long-term goal is to become a physicist and researcher I'm particularly interested in fundamental physics, especially the connection between quantum mechanics and general relativity.
However, my circumstances mean that I probably won't start university for another two years. During that time, I plan to rebuild my mathematical foundations, learn the necessary skills, work toward financial independence through online work, and apply for scholarships abroad.
The problem is that recent AI developments, especially in advanced mathematics and scientific reasoning, have seriously shaken my confidence in this plan.
If I start my bachelor's degree in approximately two years, I'll need several more years to complete it. If I eventually pursue a master's or PhD, we're looking at roughly 8–10 years before I reach that stage of my career.
By then, AI could be vastly more capable than it is today. We might have systems that independently solve difficult mathematical problems, develop scientific theories, and make discoveries that would otherwise take human researchers years or decades.
I understand that these are uncertain predictions, not established facts. But I don't think it's reasonable to ignore this possibility when making a decision that will shape my entire adult life.
My concern isn't just whether humans will still be able to do physics. It's also whether pursuing physics will remain a sensible career and financial decision.
I genuinely want to do research, but I also need to earn a good living. I want financial independence, the ability to afford healthcare and housing, and the possibility of supporting a family in the future. I don't want to spend a decade developing highly specialized skills only to discover that opportunities have become extremely scarce or that the economic value of those skills has changed dramatically.
I also realize that being exceptionally intelligent or working in a difficult field doesn't automatically guarantee a high income. That's precisely why I'm trying to understand the situation before committing to this path.
I'd appreciate your perspective on a few questions:
How likely do you think it is that AI will fundamentally transform or largely automate scientific research within the next 8–10 years? What evidence supports your view?
Could increasingly capable AI systems make human physicists less employable, even if they dramatically increase scientific productivity?
If you were starting university today and wanted both a meaningful research career and strong financial prospects, would you still choose physics? Would you choose theoretical physics, applied physics, computational physics, AI, or something else?
Which skills are most likely to remain economically valuable if AI becomes substantially better at mathematics, programming, and scientific reasoning?
Is there a realistic path that combines fundamental physics research with opportunities in industry and well-paid technical work, rather than relying entirely on an academic career?
Am I overestimating how quickly AI could advance, or is this a risk that prospective students genuinely need to plan around?
I'm not asking anyone to predict the future with certainty, and I'm not looking for empty reassurance that everything will work out.
I'd particularly value responses from people who work directly in AI development, AI research, physics, or scientific computing, and who can distinguish their firsthand experience from speculation.
If you were in my position, with limited financial resources and the next 8–10 years of your life at stake, how would you approach this decision?
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I genuinely want to make an informed decision rather than choose a career based on either fear or blind optimism.