why i'd learn robotics over AI engineering for the next 12-24 months: everyone is an AI engineer now... that's the whole problem you can't build a moat out of what a subagent does at 3am for pennies robotics is the opposite: > the models already work, what's missing is someone who can put them in a body > you can't scrape the physical world, someone has to move a real machine to create the data > there is no stackoverflow answer for why your gripper keeps slipping > a robot falling over is not a problem you can hand to a subagent > nobody clones your robot over a weekend > robotics companies are valued much higher than AI now, but you should have engineering background 100/100 what it gives to you: - robot foundation model specialists sit at $280-475k total comp - recruiters say there aren't enough senior robotics engineers in the US to staff the programs already funded - the door opens early, since teleop data collection, sim work and bring-up are entry-level seats - you could found your company first when it will become a mainstream AI engineering is crowded. robotics is EMPTY same 24 months, completely different odds don't need to put it in priority, no, cashout from AI side-hustle but make it as a daily hobby and put here 2-3 hrs for learning and engineering - can make the difference for you into the future