Stuart, Michael T. and Winters, Sabine (2026) Learning Curves in Orbit: Progress with AI in Space Science. [Preprint]

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Abstract

AI methods are being touted as a powerful new source of scientific progress. Are they? If so, what kind of progress do they facilitate? To find out, we employed qualitative research methods to explore how space scientists conceive of AI. We show that space scientists are mainly concerned with whether AI can help them solve specific problems, and more generally, to extend their abilities in useful ways. Inspired by our qualitative data, we propose a new account according to which (at least one type of) scientific progress is improving scientific abilities. We differentiate this view from others, address some objections, and show how it flexibly integrates insights from existing work.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Stuart, Michael T. mike.stuart.post@gmail.com 0000-0002-4165-2641 Winters, Sabine s.l.l.winters@uu.nl
Additional Information:	Forthcoming in André Curtis-Trudel, Darrell Rowbottom, and David Barack (eds.). The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Science: Methodological and Epistemological Studies. London: Routledge
Keywords:	scientific progress; artificial intelligence; semantic account; noetic account; epistemic account; functional account; pragmatic understanding; abilities; space science; robotics; cosmology
Subjects:	General Issues > Data Specific Sciences > Climate Science and Meteorology Specific Sciences > Computation/Information Specific Sciences > Computer Science Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence General Issues > Computer Simulation Specific Sciences > Earth Sciences Specific Sciences > Engineering Specific Sciences > Environmental Science General Issues > Evidence General Issues > Explanation Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence > Machine Learning Specific Sciences > Medicine General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Science and Society General Issues > Social Epistemology of Science General Issues > Technology General Issues > Theory/Observation General Issues > Values In Science
Depositing User:	Michael T. Stuart
Date Deposited:	21 Apr 2026 12:43
Last Modified:	21 Apr 2026 12:43
Item ID:	29268
Subjects:	General Issues > Data Specific Sciences > Climate Science and Meteorology Specific Sciences > Computation/Information Specific Sciences > Computer Science Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence General Issues > Computer Simulation Specific Sciences > Earth Sciences Specific Sciences > Engineering Specific Sciences > Environmental Science General Issues > Evidence General Issues > Explanation Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence > Machine Learning Specific Sciences > Medicine General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Science and Society General Issues > Social Epistemology of Science General Issues > Technology General Issues > Theory/Observation General Issues > Values In Science
Date:	2026
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/29268

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• Learning Curves in Orbit: Progress with AI in Space Science. (deposited 28 Nov 2025 12:38)
  • Learning Curves in Orbit: Progress with AI in Space Science. (deposited 21 Apr 2026 12:43) [Currently Displayed]

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