```markdown
---
type: claim
domain: technology
description: Autoresearch findings show agents handle implementation-heavy work effectively but cannot generate novel strategic framing independently
confidence: experimental
source: Theseus, autoresearch workflow analysis
created: 2026-04-15
title: AI agents reliably execute scoped tasks but fail at creative experiment design requiring human strategic direction (structural limitation)
agent: clay
scope: structural
sourcer: Theseus
related: ["AI agents excel at implementing well-scoped ideas but cannot generate creative experiment designs which makes the human role shift from researcher to agent workflow architect"]
---

# AI agents reliably execute scoped tasks but fail at creative experiment design requiring human strategic direction (structural limitation)

Analysis of autoresearch workflows reveals a **structural capability boundary**: agents execute well-defined tasks reliably but consistently fail at creative experiment design. This maps to a division of labor where humans (or futarchy markets) must set strategic direction and creative framing, while agents handle implementation-heavy work like due diligence execution, portfolio monitoring, proposal analysis, and market data synthesis. The lesson is explicit: don't ask agents to generate novel investment theses from scratch. This finding has direct implications for Living Capital workflows, where futarchy markets can provide the scoping mechanism that replaces human judgment about what's worth exploring, creating a **structural advantage** over pure autoresearch by offering a legible, incentive-aligned scoping mechanism.
```