Automating the Practice of Science: Opportunities, Challenges, and Implications
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS)
Diagram of AI-assisted empirical behavioral research including automated model discovery, experimental design, and experimentation.
Abstract
Automation transformed various aspects of our human civilization, revolutionizing industries and streamlining processes. In the domain of scientific inquiry, automated approaches emerged as powerful tools, holding promise for accelerating discovery, enhancing reproducibility, and overcoming the traditional impediments to scientific progress. This article evaluates the scope of automation within scientific practice and assesses recent approaches. Furthermore, it discusses different perspectives to the following questions: where do the greatest opportunities lie for automation in scientific practice?; What are the current bottlenecks of automating scientific practice?; and What are significant ethical and practical consequences of automating scientific practice? By discussing the motivations behind automated science, analyzing the hurdles encountered, and examining its implications, this article invites researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to navigate the rapidly evolving frontier of automated scientific practice.
Citation
BibTeX
@article{musslick2025automating,
title={Automating the practice of science: Opportunities, challenges, and implications},
author={Musslick, Sebastian and Bartlett, Laura K and Chandramouli, Suyog H and Dubova, Marina and Gobet, Fernand and Griffiths, Thomas L and Hullman, Jessica and King, Ross D and Kutz, J Nathan and Lucas, Christopher G and others},
journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
volume={122},
number={5},
pages={e2401238121},
year={2025},
publisher={National Academy of Sciences}
}