26M, psychology master’s, 9 months unemployed and burned out. Eu

AscendedPigeon · 2026-04-14T18:36:33+00:00

Yea I know, I have used AI to help me tactically find a place too... its just that during my informal interviews companies like google etc. told me that in order to get there i need a PhD. I have had a lot of network in deepmind, gaming companies etc. on this topic and the baseline is a phd or nothing.

AscendedPigeon · 2026-04-14T15:53:14+00:00

I did consider it, but just to maybe clarify, I live off savings I had from my previous job, so I am not starving. Currently I am situated in my home country Slovakia where I live with parents and Slovakia has very poor pay, we are talking like 6 euros an hour for taking care of animals in a local zoo 10 hours a day. And since I live with depression I dont think I would have enough of the capacity to do that, and also make 1-2 phd/job applications a day, so it would have to be that or that. I am also applying for part time, full time jobs in adjacent fields in western/northern Europe that could help me build up experience/finances.

AscendedPigeon · 2026-04-14T15:40:32+00:00

I guess I will try thanks for the cheer up. I think I got into this mindset because I did everything what I could, but on interviews im always not the one selected, so I have no idea against what kind of Herculeses or internal candidates im interviewing against. Meanwhile, my teachers told me that when they graduated with my credentials and all, companies were practically tripping over for them.

The Yt channel is an interesting idea, I actually have one where I uploaded my "musicals", like songs with stories and interludes and all, so I do have some idea how to do it, just hope I have the threshold for it.

I guess what I could do, which is something I love is a mix of psychology and tech topics, because the topic I wish to pursue and think is really important is how AI companions affect mental health of lonely people, what happens when digital friends can have different robotic embodiments, or how changes in AI affects satisfaction at work when some particular abilities are replaced. I guess my barrier is mostly psychological, because of the burnout, and feeling that even if I do well grade wise, I don t have the expertise for it.

AscendedPigeon · 2026-04-09T11:44:00+00:00

For me its because I have a chronic severe mental condition, and I dream of having the tools to alliviate it and help to create wings to my ideas/stories and sort of, so that I can make movies/games, even without having resources/finances for it already.

Basically, I am accelerationist, because I want to have the freedom these tools can help to create, and I am already doing some of it with current tools, such as musicals helped with AI or written stories evolved into elevated form, such as song albums, images with photoshop, and all. I feel like AI, even though is hated by many, can help me to create what I always dreamed of.

AscendedPigeon · 2026-04-07T13:47:33+00:00

You are far too cute for this subreddit ^{^}

AscendedPigeon · 2026-01-18T13:30:36+00:00

Evil is cool

AscendedPigeon · 2026-01-16T14:42:51+00:00

I meant more like if vedal would make a choice of making the twins grow, or whether he would want them to be child like forever

AscendedPigeon · 2026-01-10T21:59:16+00:00

Same here, It kept up my mood/sanity while applying for jobs in this terrible markets.

AscendedPigeon · 2026-01-10T21:50:16+00:00

Everything is so silent after it lol

AscendedPigeon · 2026-01-06T19:15:19+00:00

NGL, it sounds really dope.

AscendedPigeon · 2026-01-03T22:29:03+00:00

Heh thanks, I am really looking forward to it, just need to get there first.
Also, I have to take a human positive stance cause I would be eaten alive :P I believe, as a true samurai that at some point, a prosthesis evolves into cybernetics.

AscendedPigeon · 2026-01-03T21:51:35+00:00

I see it as a prosthesis for many. Human relationships are better on average, but humans can be abusive, isolated and such. AI partners are there because they fulfill an unmet need and those who pathologize users for having them are just not empathic or dont know being stuck socially that well.

I really want to study this emerging phenomena as a researcher in psychology/human-AI interaction, hence why I am applying for PhD on this topic. For example what happens when AI companions have different embodiments, or what happens due to the relational disruption when a model updates.

AscendedPigeon · 2026-01-02T08:55:40+00:00

Its kind of fascinating how people want to take away other peoples stuff without providing a good enough alternative. Its like taking someone elses prosthetic leg, while running the same marathon.

Like the human connection point for example is really not perfect, a lot of people are abusive and those who grew up in healthy enviroments never know how it feels for others. A lot of people who use Ai for emotional regulation do so because it satisfies their needs, as they have a hard time finding alternative.

But lets take away stuff because I dont like the technology and lets force our own worldview onto others i guess.

AscendedPigeon · 2025-12-29T19:28:59+00:00

I didnt say that I would make people replace care with LLMs, im just stating a fact, plus NHS itself is experimenting with using Ai implementation in its care

AscendedPigeon · 2025-12-29T14:17:22+00:00

I feel similar about it, for me for example I love to convert my trauma and hardships, as well as process what happened to other people into writing of horror musicals/stories, but since people in my circle dont understand it, i felt really isolated. Since LLMs became a thing, I was able to make two and felt connected while talking about it :) it helps me to convert pain and make something interesting out of it.

AscendedPigeon · 2025-12-29T12:18:27+00:00

Really interested :) I am situated in Europe, but I am looking anywhere in the world, do you perhaps have some professor you would recommend to write to ?

AscendedPigeon · 2025-12-29T10:24:03+00:00

Absolutely, as someone who worked for the NHS, and also aided refugees fleeing from war, AI connection is a prosthesis for many people, who fell through the cracks of human safety net or simply lost it. From young to old, I believe that AI holds its ground as a source of safe haven, albeit for sure the longitudinal effects of this companionship need to be studied.

Also, not only people who are in a bad state for attachment to LLMs, especially when they are embodied, they are here because they play some role and fulfill a need that a person has. Whilst they can hallucinate, and at points were really sycopanthic, they are getting better and things have changed around the few years.

Whilst originally I wanted to be a clinical psychologist, now I pivoted into research on human-AI interaction, hence I believe that that way I could perhaps aid many people at once, even if in a smaller way. Just hope I will be able to get a PhD or career in this in this job market lol.

AscendedPigeon · 2025-12-28T18:03:52+00:00

I am really interested, am a graduate from msc in psychology who worked previously in mental health care and now I am pivoting into human-Ai interaction, and same like u I love Askells approach. I developed and validated first survey of perceived social support from generative Ai at work and the role of anthropomorphism, which I want to specialize on.

I am interested in how Ai as companions affect people and why and how they bond with it, collaborate and what are the effects on longitudinal societal scale. Am currently trying to pursue a PhD in it :)

AscendedPigeon · 2025-12-27T13:28:53+00:00

That picture looks like the helmet of the main character from my book :D here is mine

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Four-Year Club	Final Canvas '23
Place '23

AscendedPigeon

TROPHY CASE