TRACING THE ISLAMIC INTELLECTUAL LEGACY IN THE CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/JISTM.1144012Keywords:
Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Islamic Civilization, Islamic EpistemologyAbstract
The rapid development of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has transformed the global technology landscape through the development of Large Language Models (LLMs), Deep Learning (DL) and multimodal content generation systems. Nevertheless, mainstream historiography Artificial Intelligence (AI) often situates its development within the modern Western tradition, while there are significant contributions from Islamic civilization remain underappreciated. Therefore, this study aims to examine the conceptual relationship between Islamic intellectual traditions and the intellectual foundations of GenAI through a historical and epistemological analysis. Specifically, this study seeks to (i) identify major concepts within Islamic intellectual heritage that demonstrate conceptual relevance to GenAI, (ii) analyse their significance within the broader evolution of computational thought, and (iii) discuss their implications for contemporary debates concerning AI ethics, governance and human-centred technological development. This study adopts a qualitative historical approach through a literature analysis of scholarly works related to the history of science, Islamic philosophy and GenAI. This article argues that Islamic intellectual traditions have indirectly contributed to the conceptual foundations of GenAI through the development of formal logical reasoning systems, algebraic methodologies and algorithms, as well as language and knowledge analysis structures. Although Islamic scholars did not develop GenAI in its modern form, their frameworks of thought formed part of the epistemological and technical foundations that ultimately influenced the development of modern computing and GenAI. This study also asserts that Islamic traditions offer important ethical and epistemological dimensions in understanding the limitations of AI as well as the importance of human oversight in future technological development.
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