This is an interesting read: https://ai-2027.com/
I'm not going to say it's a perfect prediction, but I do find the trajectory of "can write something reasonable" to "oh can write snippets of code" towards larger and larger systems feels like it's played out - the common thing I see more now is that people talk of "taste" that the humans are contributing more than the raw coding part.
I get what you mean with this rather automated research, I've done it on a smaller scale with performance work because it can run/test/measure/propose changes/debug and loop. I can throw a vague idea at it, guide it or discuss with it and go and make a coffee.
That was a “fun” read. Like Nick Bostrom’s Superintelligence [1].
[1] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20527133