I think your expectations of who gets to do math is uncalibrated. One famous math researcher who solved a major open problem was working at Subway while still doing math on the side.
A very small fraction of people who get math degrees actually continue to do math in their careers. They usually have to get other jobs in order to survive (actuary, teacher, finance, etc.). Academic math funding was already drying up for last few years, and now AI will probably cause more cuts. Not to mention that academic math positions have never paid particularly well.
I feel bad for anyone who can't find a job, but the software industry as a whole has been the cushiest industry for decades, and the current turbulence seems more temporary (and driven by corporate greed) than a systematic destruction of the trade.
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I think your expectations of who gets to do math is uncalibrated. One famous math researcher who solved a major open problem was working at Subway while still doing math on the side.
A very small fraction of people who get math degrees actually continue to do math in their careers. They usually have to get other jobs in order to survive (actuary, teacher, finance, etc.). Academic math funding was already drying up for last few years, and now AI will probably cause more cuts. Not to mention that academic math positions have never paid particularly well.
I feel bad for anyone who can't find a job, but the software industry as a whole has been the cushiest industry for decades, and the current turbulence seems more temporary (and driven by corporate greed) than a systematic destruction of the trade.