AI is Shifting the Focus of Scientific Value
Afinetheorem · x · 2026-07-19
Gita Gopinath noted at an NBER conference that AI has significantly eroded the premium once placed on research driven primarily by computational complexity. As AI makes such work easier, the center of value is shifting back to three types of contributions that are much harder to replace:
- New insights
- New mechanisms
- New measurements
The author adds that this confirms a broader realization: true value creation now lies in abilities that complement AI, rather than simply piling on complexity.
Related event: AI is Shifting the Focus of Economics Research, Says IMF Official(2 posts)→
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