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AI Presents Science with a ‘Ship of Theseus’ Problem

C. Brandon Ogbunu· 25 septembre 2026

Opinion | AI is being integrated into every part of the scientific process, including education, publishing, and the research itself. What does it mean if every component of the enterprise gets replaced by AI tools over time? C. Brandon Ogbunu explores what happens when science gets stripped of hum…

Résumé

Ship of Theseus concept

The article introduces the Ship of Theseus as a philosophical thought experiment dating back to ancient Greece.

The paradox asks whether an object that has all its components replaced over time remains fundamentally the same object.

For example, if every plank of a ship is replaced one by one, is it still the original ship?

This concept is used as a metaphor to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) challenges our understanding of identity and continuity in science.

The article suggests that AI systems, which continuously update their knowledge and algorithms, may force scientists to reconsider what constitutes the 'core' of a research field or a scientific theory when its foundational components are repeatedly modified or replaced.

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