  This paper engages in a speculative exploration of the concept of an
artificial agent capable of conducting research. Initially, it examines how the
act of research can be conceptually characterized, aiming to provide a starting
point for discussions about what it means to create such agents. The focus then
shifts to the core components of research: question formulation, hypothesis
generation, and hypothesis verification. This discussion includes a
consideration of the potential and challenges associated with enabling machines
to autonomously perform these tasks. Subsequently, this paper briefly considers
the overlapping themes and interconnections that underlie them. Finally, the
paper presents preliminary thoughts on prototyping as an initial step towards
uncovering the challenges involved in developing these research-capable agents.

Artificial Intelligence;Machine Learning