Epistemological, Political, and Technological Challenges in the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Humanities and Applied Social Sciences

Abstract

This article presents a critical and contextualized analysis of the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for the Humanities and Applied Social Sciences. Drawing from the techno-political genealogy of AI and its global productive structure, consolidated within a U.S.-centered model, the text discusses the dominance of large corporations, the centrality of this technology in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the economic-political dispute between the United States and China in this field. The article examines the unequal incorporation of AI across different sectors, with emphasis on the challenges faced in education, scientific research, and public policy formulation. The author argues that AI must be understood as a historical phenomenon and proposes strategies for its critical appropriation by universities, research centers, and public institutions. From a Brazilian perspective—particularly in light of the Brazilian Artificial Intelligence Plan 2024–2028—the article advocates for State-led policies guided by technological sovereignty, social justice, and epistemological diversity.