I just finished a PhD in stats, and before that, studied computer science. I had planned to go back to industry to do software engineering or be a data scientist afterwards.
However, it seems that in the meantime, vibe coding has taken over the software industry and swallowed most data scientist roles. Few open positions, and the ones that do exist are just pushing a button instead of thinking and solving problems. Is this a correct assessment? Should I try to get back in or just find a new career? I am not too keen on staying in academia either.
This kind of dependence on these systems is breeding a kind of gambling addict like behavior, that one dears what will happen if it goes away.
I also have a theory that because LLM’s use a bit randomization to it that it scratches that same itch that gambling has and this is why so many people are addicted/defend their slop so hard. “Yes, this code is crap but if I rub this chair and switch this light on and off 54 times, maybe the LLM will reward me with exactly what I want.”