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Andrew White: Automating scientific discovery will increase overall demand rather than displace jobs

Andrew White · 🔬 From Red Teaming GPT-4 to Automating Drug Discovery: The Future of AI in Science — Andrew White · Jan 28, 2026 · at 54:05

Andrew White discusses whether automating science via AI will eliminate researcher jobs, applying Jevons paradox to scientific discovery.

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“In science, I don't think there is a finite appetite or a finite capacity for science. I don't think science is like a scarcity thing. Like there's, you know, 100 more discoveries left to be made and then we'll be done. And so like we're displacing jobs. I think instead, actually, if we can make science go much, much faster, there will be no decrease in demand. There will be actually, I think, an increase in demand that will match whatever automation amount we have.”

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