I would say that, in ideal world, the relevant skill/task is “given the analysis already at hand, write a paper that conveys it well” (and it is alarming that this skill becomes much more valuable than the analysis itself, so people get credit for others’ analyses even when they clearly state that they merely retell it). And I fully believe that both the task of scientific analysis (outputting the results of the analysis, not its procedure, because that’s what needed for non-meta-purposes!) and the task outlined above will be achieved earlier than an AI that can actually combine them to write a paper from scratch. AND that each new simple task in the line to the occupation further removes their combination even after the simple task itself is achieved.
I would say that, in ideal world, the relevant skill/task is “given the analysis already at hand, write a paper that conveys it well” (and it is alarming that this skill becomes much more valuable than the analysis itself, so people get credit for others’ analyses even when they clearly state that they merely retell it). And I fully believe that both the task of scientific analysis (outputting the results of the analysis, not its procedure, because that’s what needed for non-meta-purposes!) and the task outlined above will be achieved earlier than an AI that can actually combine them to write a paper from scratch. AND that each new simple task in the line to the occupation further removes their combination even after the simple task itself is achieved.
Going any further would require to taboo “task”.
I agree your reading explains the differences in responses given in the survey.
Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to taboo a term when discussing how (mis)interpretation of said term influenced a survey.