AI’s impact on research & development is undeniable, say experts

Experts from IAS and Rent the Runway have highlighted the significant impact artificial intelligence (AI) has had on research and development (R&D) organizations. The rapid evolution of AI is seen as the most influential trend currently reshaping the R&D landscape. Technology director at Rent the Runway, Mark Walsh, emphasized that the pace of change in AI is unlike anything seen in his career and that it brings both exciting opportunities and unsettling uncertainties.

Alexander Smirnov, a staff software engineer at Integral Ad Science, echoed Walsh's sentiments, stating that AI's capabilities have advanced rapidly, and the competition is fierce with new models being released every few months. This has had a profound effect on how engineers work, with coding now relying more on coding agents, and even the design and planning stages benefiting from AI assistance.

Walsh highlighted that R&D teams are not yet at the end of their adaptation to AI, instead they are constantly adapting at a faster pace than ever before. He explained that teams need to be comfortable with uncertainty, evaluate new approaches with rigor, make considered decisions, and be willing to revisit those decisions as the landscape continues to shift.

Smirnov noted that many teams are adopting new workflows and increasingly embedding large language models (LLMs) or agentic workflows during development and operational support. However, he stressed that effective use of these tools requires ongoing learning, experimentation, and a willingness to question old habits.

The experts also cautioned professionals to remember their core values as engineers and knowledge workers. Walsh urged them not to get distracted by the latest tools and technologies, but to focus on their critical thinking skills and ability to generate novel ideas. Smirnov agreed that while AI can generate code quickly, developers must still understand how that code works, as LLMs do not possess true human-like understanding.

Ultimately, both Walsh and Smirnov believe that the future of R&D lies in the combination of strong computer science fundamentals with the ability to effectively direct, audit, and collaborate with intelligent agents. They emphasized that the ability to think critically and independently of technology will remain crucial for success in the ever-evolving R&D landscape.