The research 'smile curve': in AI-era research, only question-picking and communication retain value
soumitrashukla9 · x · 2026-09-05
Borrowing the manufacturing smile curve — where value sits in R&D and branding while assembly is commoditized — the author argues AI-enabled research will follow the same shape: value concentrates in choosing the question and clearly writing up and communicating results, while the in-between work of research execution becomes commoditized 'assembly'.
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