Agreed. Novel would be very impressive. AI tech is struggling with that.

It is important not to wait for today's AI tech to get to AGI. It is better to exploit the useful things it can do today while waiting for it to get better tomorrow.

Cloning existing software might be useful today. It allows the model to

1) learn from its mistakes

2) mix known solutions (embed product A inside product B)

3) mine value (turn product A into a set of reusable libraries)

etc.