OpenAI Aims for AI to Discover New Scientific Ideas with “Automated Researcher” Goal

OpenAI's Chief Scientist, Jakub Pachocki, has articulated the company's ambitious long-term research objective: to develop an "automated researcher" capable of independently discovering novel scientific ideas. This vision marks a significant shift in artificial intelligence, moving beyond current capabilities to foster AI as a co-creator of knowledge. The announcement emphasizes the ongoing evolution of AI models, particularly in their capacity for complex reasoning.

Pachocki highlighted that current AI models can sustain reasoning for "1-5 hours," a notable advancement in their problem-solving prowess. However, he identified the next critical frontiers for AI development as long-term planning and memory. These areas are crucial for enabling AI to tackle more intricate and sustained research challenges, mirroring the protracted efforts often required in scientific discovery.

The pursuit of an "automated researcher" is deeply intertwined with advancements like GPT-5, which OpenAI aims to integrate long-horizon reasoning capabilities into its default behavior. According to Pachocki, this initiative moves beyond traditional AI benchmarks, focusing instead on "actual movement on things that are economically relevant" and demonstrating genuine discovery. This strategic pivot signifies a redefinition of AI's role, from an assistant to an active participant in scientific inquiry.

Reinforcement Learning (RL) has proven unexpectedly powerful in this endeavor, enabling models to become experts in specific domains like mathematics and programming. OpenAI's research culture prioritizes fundamental exploration, ensuring researchers have the space to pursue ambitious goals without immediate productization pressures. This approach aims to extend AI's reasoning horizon and memory retention, paving the way for systems that can autonomously operate and contribute to scientific breakthroughs over extended periods.