Social Sciences in China, 2026

Vol. 47, No. 1, 2026

Datafication of Expert Knowledge and AI for the Humanities and Social Sciences

(Abstract)

Qiu Zeqi , Li Haolin , Zhang Pingwen, and Qiao Tianyu

Intelligent digital technologies are reshaping the paradigms of knowledge production, with AI for the humanities and social sciences (AI for HSS) emerging as a key direction for future development. High-quality data is a prerequisite for this evolution. One path toward generating such data is datafication of accumulated human knowledge. Here, expert knowledge, characterized by its iterative refinement, condensed form, and specialized structure, is especially valuable due to its innovative potential. Within the humanities and social sciences, legal expert knowledge is particularly representative. Using law as a case study, datafication of expert knowledge can follow a “three-step” approach: delineating the scope of expert knowledge, reconstructing its internal structure, and designing technological pathways for its transformation. This model is broadly applicable and helps consolidate the data foundations of AI for HSS, while also marking a solid step toward a new paradigm in HSS knowledge production.

Keywords: datafication of expert knowledge, AI for the humanities and social sciences, data annotation, legal field