“but to deal with ambiguity and open-endedness, which is essential in R&D projects like Kagi Labs”…. Also based on the nonsense responses by the hiring manager, it sounds like one of 2 things

Either someone had a vision and is saying ‘Read my mind’

The alternative explanation seems to be, there is no vision, and the interviewee needs to define it.

In either scenario, the amount of communication, feedback, specificity, lack of respect for the power dynamics is appalling.