Yang Xin, Yeerdana Kenjibieke, Wen Fuquan, Chen Tao
Journal of Information and Management. 2025, 10(6): 28-40.
The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence is propelling digital humanities (DH) toward a paradigm shift to AI-driven intelligent humanities (AI-DH). This study provides a systematic account of this transformation by examining its external morphological evolution, internal methodological innovations, and underlying cognitive reconstruction. In terms of research morphology, AI-DH is characterized by human-AI collaboration, integrated and generalized technological architectures, the activation of data intelligence, and the emergence of novel research forms. Cognitively,AI-DH embodies the dialectical unity of human and machine intelligence, the convergence of humanistic rationality and probabilistic inference, and the coexistence of deep exploration and broad generalization. Methodologically, AI-DH demonstrates a theoretical shift from tool-based assistance to intelligent partnership, from humanities-centered to humancentered inquiry orientation and a transition from linear workflows to open generative systems. These shifts give rise to four emerging paradigm patterns: generative humanities, dialogic humanities, simulated humanities, and extended humanities. Overall, AI-DH not only expands the boundaries and capabilities of traditional DH but also reshapes its epistemic foundations and practical pathways, offering a systematic framework for the intelligent evolution of humanities research in the era of generative AI.