Future of general LLM work (interp/inference/alignment) vs agentic/physical AI (VLA, multimodal) for career [D]

A Reddit user is seeking career advice regarding two distinct graduate school paths: one focusing on general LLM work (interpretation, inference, alignment) and the other on agentic/physical AI (VLA, multimodal). They are particularly interested in the transferability of skills between these fields, asking which direction offers more flexibility and sustained value. The user wants insights from professionals currently working in either area to help decide on their research and career trajectory.

This discussion uniquely frames the career choice between general LLM work and agentic/physical AI as a question of skill transferability, unlike typical comparisons focusing on market demand.