ModelsBenchmark resultRobotics & Embodied AI · Applications · Safety & Alignment1 source · Oct 9, 2026

Can AI automate AI R&D yet?

Existing evidence shows that AI can perform software engineering tasks relevant to AI research, dataset creation, open-ended optimization of defined metrics (autoresearch), and more.

Proof1 independent outlet

Key points

  • Leading AI companies say they are building automated AI researchers.
  • We present early results from InnovationEval, an evaluation that measures AI’s ability to independently discover novel machine learning techniques comparable to those developed by human researchers.
  • For this iteration, the comparison innovation was Self-Distillation Policy Optimization (SDPO), a training technique where the AI teaches itself based on its previous mistakes.
  • As of right now, AI is far from automating AI R&D.

Sources (1)

  • [1]Can AI automate AI R&D yet?
    Epoch AI: Gradient Updates · Oct 9, 06:41 PM
    Existing evidence shows that AI can perform software engineering tasks relevant to AI research, dataset creation, open-ended optimization of defined metrics (autoresearch), and more.
    Leading AI companies say they are building automated AI researchers.

Extractive summary: sentences quoted from the sources.

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