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Rethinking Mathematical Intuition in the Age of AI

Kish Bar-On, Kati and Friedman, Michael (2026) Rethinking Mathematical Intuition in the Age of AI. [Preprint]

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Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into mathematical practice raises profound questions about the nature of mathematical intuition in discovery and research. This paper examines the epistemological shifts induced by AI-based programs and tools, and explores how they challenge traditional notions of intuition. Building on three case studies, we argue that AI-based systems do not abolish intuition but relocate it, shifting it from a primarily anticipatory capacity to one that can also operate retroactively as interpretation, reconstruction, critique, and integration. Drawing on the historical flexibility of the concept, we propose a working definition of mathematical intuition as a family of practice-embedded capacities for orienting, evaluating, and rendering intelligible mathematical moves and outcomes across hybrid human–machine collaborations. Ultimately, we argue that AI-based programs, even when their capacities are more limited than some narratives suggest, are not merely new computational aids but a transformative epistemic force that reconfigures what it means to “do mathematics” in the 21st century.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Kish Bar-On, Katikatikish@gmail.com0000-0001-6867-3701
Friedman, Michaelfriedman@math.uni-bonn.de0000-0002-2905-0170
Keywords: Mathematical Intuition; AI in Mathematics; Mathematical Practice; Human-Machine Collaboration; Mathematical Reasoning
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Mathematics > History of Philosophy
Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence
Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence > Machine Learning
Specific Sciences > Mathematics
Depositing User: Dr. Kati Kish Bar-On
Date Deposited: 26 Mar 2026 22:58
Last Modified: 26 Mar 2026 22:58
Item ID: 28776
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Mathematics > History of Philosophy
Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence
Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence > Machine Learning
Specific Sciences > Mathematics
Date: 10 February 2026
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/28776

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