My advice would be (if you're in it to make a living) to get out and move into finance.

How though? At least here (NL) the rewards aren't great until you get very senior, which is hard to do with a background in Software Engineering?

Hm, I'm in NL as well and made the switch 15 years ago, compared to what I made writing software I regret not doing it much earlier. Note that 'finance' is a pretty wide area, I would suggest to see if you can work your way into some VC fund at the associate level with that background.

Thanks. That's certainly worth looking into; I switched to freelancing a decade ago and am now at the ceiling as an Engineering Lead and despite still being very effective as a hands-on engineer (coding for 30 years does that) am far more effective in a more strategic role.

I have friends who work in the M&A world (doing due diligence, C-level advise etc) both here in NL (you'll probably know them) and in the US/CA (in identity/credentials), guess I should have a chat with them :-)

But first I'm going to spend a few months doing something good - seeing if we can actually fix interoperability in healthcare in the EU. Lots of interesting things happening in that space ;-)

I've been thinking if I should mode from my soulless job in ML to a soulless job in finance.

The "good" news is, pretty soon, they'll be the same thing!

Just wanted to chime in and say that your “soulless job in ML” comment is relatable, and your experience isn’t unique. I had one too. I saved up a lot of money from it, but by the end it nearly cost me my remaining passion.

A soulless job in finance is better if you like(d) ML at all, because then you can keep your interests separate from your job.

> because then you can keep your interests separate from your job

Interesting! I never made that connection but now that you mention it it is obvious. Thanks.

> A soulless job in finance is better if you like(d) ML at all, because then you can keep your interests separate from your job.

I did read somewhere that for someone trying to write a book in their spare time, a job in editing is the worst possible thing to have for a similar reason.

I don't get it. Do you think developers will experience some AI related job losses and finance people will not?

Well, for years now people have ben talking about a new AI bubble, that might burst at some point.

I've been in this area for a couple decades now and have seen technologies come and go, so I see my AI-related job now as just another generation of tools and making pretty sure that I keep my knowledge still valid in other non-AI related area in the tech space, so that I'm not a data-science/AI-framework-plumbing kind of person.

I keep an interest in standard C++ desktop development, which to me seem a safe harbour even time there is a collapse in some trendy technology.

I don't think I hate anyone enough to advise them to get into finance as a profession.

I've always been a big fan of open-mindedness, humility, self-discipline, completionism, personal integrity, and constant learning.

If you keep those going, you'll do well in almost everything.

I'm loath to give more specific advice, because the whole industry is experiencing a bit of a "sea change," right now, and I'm not sure that past performance is a good indicator of future results.

My advice would be to find a niche where your business knowledge is your value, not your coding. Bonus if the niche is finance, because $$. Become a consultant not an employee. In this world, leet code is a liability. Always code assuming the next person to maintain it is a junior, or a psychopath who knows where you live.