Codex Is a Surprisingly Competent Research Assistant (nicholasclark.org)

A recent exploration of the AI coding assistant Claude Code reveals its impressive capabilities as a research assistant, particularly in accelerating workflows for academic projects. The user detailed an experience where they transitioned from a blank paper to a nearly submittable research paper in just eight hours, largely relying on Claude Code to autonomously execute tasks with minimal supervision. This efficiency suggests that AI tools can significantly reduce the time spent on tedious aspects of research—like data wrangling and formatting—while allowing researchers to focus on higher-level decision-making. This development is significant for the AI/ML community as it highlights the potential for AI models like Claude Code and Codex to take on substantial partial workloads in academia, potentially transforming how research is conducted. By utilizing AI for routine tasks, researchers could enhance productivity and publication frequency, resembling the dynamics of working with an undergraduate research assistant. As these tools become increasingly capable, they may redefine roles within research, allowing human experts to focus more on creative and critical aspects rather than manual tasks, thereby streamlining the overall process of scientific inquiry.