The academic market in the US is very bad and in the EU only marginally better. China seems to prefer domestic talent now.

Outside of academia there are only a few niche industries still hiring. Mag7 is drying up. The semi-private research institutes want seniors with grants or customers in pocket, not fresh phds with no connections.

Probably only getting worse in the near term.

There are a few specific applications that are still good. Medical imaging seems okay for now. Advanced signal processing is still a viable route. Consumer robotics, possibly.

I think they'll do okay considering there's another story in the front page about a university in California just now realizing after six years (without the requirement) that standardized math testing should be pre-requisite for...wait for it...STEM candidates.

Short-term: you better love it. Long-term: just focus on being one of the ones that ensures humans retain their ability to understand math. Do a YouTube channel on the side where you make math legible to the masses in a fun, engaging way. Use the cash from that to fund your research/genuine passions.

Whatever you do: please don't submit to the machine or throw away your genuine curiosity as a sacrifice on the Altar of Commerce.

Here's a research mathematician replying to pretty much exactly this question, and I think it's worth reading: https://davidbessis.substack.com/p/letter-to-a-phd-student

It's also relevant for non-AI reasons. The upshot is: Do it if you want to. You're at an age where you're supposed to be mostly learning, but over time, start transitioning into whyever you did this (which doesn't have to mean staying in academia, and in fact can mean teaching or popularisation or consulting or...).

I wouldn't particularly worry. Big picture: don't base your future on the fears of the present. AI is a tool for humans, so be curious about it and use it if it can help you. Otherwise, ignore the noise.

I think it depends what they’re hoping to get out of it.

Learn a trade that involves using your hands.