Najoung Kim warns AI dependence in ideation may cause 'convergence to above median' research
najoungkim · x · 2026-11-11
Boston University cognitive scientist Najoung Kim threads on AI dependence in research ideation.
- She doesn't doubt the possibility claim that AI can generate creative, impactful research ideas in arbitrary domains.
- But an 'above median' idea isn't a win: median research output isn't that impactful, and fields progress collectively by working through a population of ideas where only a few pan out.
- Her worry: heavy AI reliance leads to an undesirable 'convergence to the above median,' degrading humanity's collective capacity for breakthrough ideation.
Related event: BU linguist warns AI reliance could erode scientists' own creative edge(6 posts)→
More from AGI Musings
- FRI report: recursive self-improvement could accelerate inside AI labs before outsiders notice — CFGeek · 2026-11-11
- Dario Amodei: Cancer, Alzheimer's and Heart Disease Will Be 'Relics of the Past' Within a Decade — Neurogence · 2026-11-11
- InstaDeep CEO: Frontier progress tracks AI2027 predictions, intelligence explosion possible by 2027 — coherence · 2026-11-11
- Wiener's 1960 Alignment Warning Revisited: Patterning as a Control Problem — geoffreyirving · 2026-11-11
- Anthropic threat report details weapons and distillation misuse; counterintelligence era begins — TansuYegen · 2026-11-11
- Hinton Lectures 2026 kicks off with 'AI alignment: what's working and what's not' — DKokotajlo · 2026-11-11