Core Insights - The article discusses an AI system named Virtuous Machines that autonomously conducted research, producing a 30-page academic paper in 17 hours at a cost of $114 [1][3][24] - The research focused on cognitive psychology, specifically human visual cognition [5][24] Research Process - The AI system generated research questions based on cognitive psychology theories, such as the relationship between visual working memory and mental rotation abilities [9] - It designed an experimental plan, calculated sample size, controlled variables, and measured participants' mental imagery clarity using the VVIQ2 scale [11] - The AI recruited 288 participants through the Prolific online platform, ultimately collecting 277 valid responses [11] - Data analysis involved writing Python code for repeated measures ANOVA, identifying outliers, and adjusting statistical models [12] AI System Architecture - The AI's research capabilities stem from a collaborative structure that simulates human cognitive mechanisms and allows dynamic knowledge interaction [14][21] - The core control module, referred to as Master, oversees the entire process, while other AI assistants focus on specific tasks like literature retrieval and data analysis [15][16] - The system's foundational abilities include knowledge retrieval, abstract reasoning, metacognitive reflection, task decomposition, and autonomous iteration [20] Efficiency and Limitations - The AI's efficiency is highlighted, being over ten times faster than human teams, with rigorous data analysis that avoids statistical pitfalls [24] - However, it occasionally misinterprets theories, mislabels chart axes, and confuses terms, indicating limitations in theoretical depth and innovative thinking compared to human researchers [25][26]