Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

With AI hitting Art, and the Engineering Job Market right now, is it a toss which is the worse choice?

Art has been a poor career choice for a long time before the current state of AI

Regardless of AI, isn’t it equally hard to start a business (no matter how small)? OP made it (it seems), but chances are against one. I think this applies now, 10 years ago and will apply 10 years from now.

We only see posts of the successful ones, though.

Ai isn't making paintings, taking photographs, sculpting or making things.

Ai does a very narrow part of what art is.

AI is hitting engineering now too, no? (Sure in small ways now, but I imagine it would be one of the first targets considering it is engineers doing it)

Since covid I left tech and have been working at ayahuasca retreat centers (assisting and managing) and apprenticing. Frankly I can't imagine a career less at risk to AI replacement!

Maybe someone should start a job board for AI-proof gigs.

Not if you're truly into marketing and art is a second thought. Most 'artists' of this type sell copies because that easy money. But if you're not good with marketing you end up stockpiling copies of your art that nobody wants.

It can enhance it though. I can draw my own painting ask my local ai to fill in the gaps or to upscale it a bit etc. Is the art part gone then?

Who do you think is going to pay for the retreats when all the high paying white collar jobs are gone? the economy will collapse which inevitably will affect you regardless of your job

The majority of our clientele don't really fit that demographic, our prices are pretty reasonable and we probably could lower them further. I don't think we'd be terribly affected unless something catastrophic happens.