Artificial Intelligence in Research and Development
This is a preliminary draft and may not have been subjected to the formal review process of the NBER. This page will be updated as the chapter is revised.
How much can AI accelerate progress in different research fields? This paper shows that three features—the share of research tasks AI performs, the productivity of AI at those tasks, and the strength of bottlenecks—are key determinants of AI’s implications in any area, from cancer therapeutics to software design. The model maps changes in AI capabilities to research outcomes, quantifies the “marginal returns to intelligence,” and shows how AI can shift returns to R&D investment. Concepts like superintelligence, Powerful AI, and Transformative AI are further engaged and disciplined. Finally, the framework sets a measurement agenda linking AI benchmarks to field-specific opportunities for accelerating progress.