Autonomous artificial intelligence, scientific research, and human values
Journal: AI and Ethics
Year: 2026

During the initial stage of AI's incorporation into scientific research, AI systems have functioned predominantly as tools under direct human supervision and control. However, AI incorporation into scientific research is now entering a stage in which AI Agents perform research tasks with partial autonomy while remaining under human supervision and control. In the not-too-distant future, a third stage may arise when autonomous AI systems conduct their own research and generate knowledge without h