From Automated Simulation to Autonomous Discovery: A Hierarchical Framework for Agentic Computational Materials Science

Abstract: The convergence of LLMs, materials-specific foundation models, and agentic artificial intelligence is reshaping the paradigm of computational materials discovery. While high-throughput computation, automated workflows, and data-driven modeling have greatly expanded the scale of materials exploration, the core scientific decision-making loop remains largely human-directed. Agentic AI introduces the possibility of systems that can autonomously reason about materials objectives, execute simulations, and refine strategies. However, the rapid emergence of such systems has created a critical need for a unified and operational framework to define, evaluate, and guide scientific autonomy in computational materials discovery. In this Perspective, we propose the Computational Materials Agent Autonomy Level (CMA-AL) framework, a hierarchical taxonomy defining six levels of autonomous agency in computational materials science: scripted excecutor, LLM-assisted operator, adaptive explorer, experiment-ready modeler, agentic digital twin, and self-extending intelligence. We further map emerging agentic systems onto the framework and identify key scientific and technological challenges toward higher autonomy. CMA-AL provides a common language for characterizing agentic computational materials discovery, evaluating the maturity of emerging systems, and guiding their evolution toward increasingly autonomous materials discovery.