Reclaiming the Value of Deep Thinking——2026人文社会科学智能发展蓝皮书

Editors-in-Chief CHEN ZhiminWU Libo Issuer MOE Lab for National Development and IntelligentGovernanceShanghai Academy of AI for Science Senior Advisor JIN Li Editors-in-Chief CHEN Zhimin,WU Libo Associate Editors-in-Chief WEN Shaoqing, ZHANG Jilong, and HUANG Hao Editorial Board* QI Yuan, LI Hao, YUAN Jiacan, ZHOU Yang, CHEN Bin, SHI Zhengyu, XU Yinghui,HUANG Xiang, XIAO Xiao,YANG Qingfeng, LIN Junyu, WEI Zhongyu,LIU Bao, CHENSiming,HU Anning, ZHOU Baohua, ZHENG Lei, ZHAO Xing, WANG Yihan, FU Anna,CHENG Yunhan, YIN Shenqin, WANG Dongwei, XU Xian,ZHUSiyu, LIU ChuangandGAO Qiqi Executive Editors: TANG Weiqi, WANG Lingxiang, and ZHANG Yiying * Editorial Board members are listed in the order of the chapters for which they are responsible. Preface: Guiding the Transformation of Intelligencewith the Depth of Thought In his congratulatory letter marking the 120th anniversary of Fudan University, GeneralSecretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to advance knowledge innovation, theoreticalinnovation,and methodological innovation in philosophy and the social sciences. Thisimportant guidance points the way forward for the development of the New Liberal Arts inuniversities, and provides a fundamental compass for our exploration of the integration ofintelligence with the social sciences and humanities. TheBlue Book on the Development of AI for Social Sciences and Humanities 2026(hereinafter theBlue Book) takes “knowledge innovation, theoretical innovation, andmethodological innovation” as its overarching framework, and “Reclaiming the Value ofThinking” as its theme. It offers a profound analysis of the interactive tensions between thesocial sciences and humanities and artificial intelligence, vividly presents the latestexplorations of Chinese universities in the paradigm transformation of intelligent socialsciences and humanities, and provides important insights for promoting the high-qualitydevelopment of philosophy and the social sciences by upholding fundamental principleswhile breaking new ground. This is a work that responds to the questions of our time and is grounded in a deepconcern for reality.As one turns its pages, the image of scholars in the social sciences andhumanities—thinking deeply and working earnestly—comes vividly into view. Theyremain focused on frontier practice, directing their attention to major issues of humanconcern, such as national development, sustainable transformation, public governance, andsocial trust. They raise real questions, build real theories, and create real value, enablingresearch in philosophy and the social sciences to retain its penetrating capacity to answerthe questions of the times and resolve the puzzles of development in the intelligent era. This is also a work that moves beyond instrumentalrationality and advocateshuman–AI symbiosis.A defining feature of the 2026Blue Bookis that it advances “AIempowerment” toward “two-way empowerment and symbiosis.” It discusses not only howtechnology drives the iteration of knowledge production, butalso how the academiccommunity can guide technology toward the good and enhance the value of technologicalempowerment. This mutually reinforcing and mutually enriching mode of integrationunleashes technological potential while upholding human-centered boundaries. It also allows us to see the boundless possibilities of intelligence supporting the humanities andthought guiding innovation. This is, above all, a work that returns to the essence of thought and calls for deepthinking.The book presents a group of high-value research achievements in the socialsciences and humanities. What they rely on is not “faster generation,” but “deeper cognition.”Every argument has been questioned, refined, and tempered through long cycles, completechains of inquiry, and strong contextual engagement. What ultimately emerges is a set ofintellectual achievements that reach the essence of things, reveal underlying patterns, andilluminate the logic of reality. Today, the wave of intelligence is surging forward. It has brought new tools, newscenarios, and new methods to philosophy and the social sciences, while also placing higherdemands on the independence, depth, and creativity of thought. I believe that the publicationof the new edition of theBlue Bookwill not onlyprovide an important reference for theacademic community, encouraging more scholars to devote themselves to the integrationand innovation of the social sciences and humanities with artificial intelligence, and tocontinuously expand the breadth and depthwith which we know and understand the world.It will also inspire more readers to safeguard thought and sharpen thinking in the intelligentera, preserving the composure and resolve needed for independent reflection, rationaljudgment, value inquiry, anddiscerning choice, so that the light of thought and the wingsof intelligence may coexist, reinforce each other, and shine together. Since its first release in 2025, theBlue Bookhas play