I do Computer Vision research for a company, and wanted to go to Academia (in US/UK/NA/EU). That's a too risky career choice now, and has always been. What if I am not as brilliant as I think and cannot meaningfully contribute to Science? (Or don't get tenure?) Wanted to do either ML + fundamental Science or Edge AI.

Thinking of going to med school. I am sure I can qualify. So thinking of preparing for that while keeping my industry job.

Another option is going into Administration, i.e. government jobs, by qualifying something called UPSC (I am in India).

I fully understand what's going on and I am under no denial that many jobs in many sectors will be made redundant and competition will skyrocket. Societal turmoil is inevitable.

I am just 23 and weighing in my options. My days are so emotional and full of dilemmas and trilemmas.

I keep myself sane by doing my job, side hustle, dogs, family, and friends. I will be depressed if I ponder too much into these.

You use your brains to solve interesting problems, at least sometimes.

And even if you are an IAS, after your district posting ends, you are just another government servant. Doing repeatative jobs, bound to an office.

Will I even like that life 20 years later?

And the income in UPSC jobs is too low. Lower than doctors or techies (I make close to an entry level IAS now).

Another point to consider is:

Once you learn programming, you are always a programmer.

Once you are a doctor, you are always a doctor.

But your status as IAS is solely tied to your job. You leave or you retire- you are a nobody again.

Honestly, I don't have enough information to decide. I am postponing making this decision as much as I can.

Thank you for your comment, anyway.