[silly_me]

You can give up on a dream when you have a clearer one.

Ask yourself if your dream is actually to have any PhD or a PhD in machine learning.

Sometime we confuse the goal with the means. If you don't like what you are doing, quit ! The sooner the better. When you like what you are doing, it doesn't matter how hard it get, you enjoy it.

If your goal is to have a PhD position in Machine Learning and you feel like your chances aren't good where you are, try to think about creative way improve your chances (competitions, side project, etc...). Don't just give up if it is really what you want.

But if you goal is just to land a PhD position, then move to improve your chances !