mlsanityData to 7 Oct 2026

Social physics in the age of artificial intelligence

arXiv 2603.16900 ↗First posted 4 Mar 2026physics.soc-ph cs.AI cs.HCcited by 4

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Abstract (arXiv)

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are rapidly becoming more capable, autonomous, and deeply embedded in social life. As humans increasingly interact, cooperate, and compete with AI, we move from purely human societies to hybrid human-AI societies whose collective dynamics cannot be captured by existing behavioural models alone. Drawing on evolutionary game theory, cultural evolution, and Large Language Models (LLMs) powered simulations, we argue that these developments open a new research agenda for social physics centred on the co-evolution of humans and machines. We outline six key research directions. First, modelling the evolutionary dynamics of social behaviours (e.g. cooperation, fairness, trust) in hybrid human-AI populations. Second, understanding machine culture: how AI systems generate, mediate, and select cultural traits. Third, analysing the co-evolution of language and behaviour when LLMs frame and participate in decisions. Fourth, studying the evolution of AI delegation: how responsibilities and control are negotiated between humans and machines. Fifth, formalising and comparing the distinct epistemic pipelines that generate human and AI behaviour. Sixth, modelling the co-evolution of AI development and regulation in a strategic ecosystem of firms, users, and institutions. Together, these directions define a programme for using social physics to anticipate and steer the societal impact of advanced AI.

Key facts. Cited by 4 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 65 of its 179 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 4 Mar 2026.

Builds on

65 of 179 references.

References · 65

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38 more
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50 most cited of 65 All 65 (JSON)

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Cited by year (2026 to 7 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2026: 4.

4 papers.

  1. 2026Trust or Check? Understanding the (Evolutionary) Dynamics of User Trust in AI Systemscited by 1
  2. 2026Beyond Alignment: Value Diversity as a Collective Property in Multicultural Agent Systemscited by 0
  3. 2026Role differentiation as ignition of a collective information engine: Structuration in Agent Populationscited by 0
  4. 2026LLMs for Social Network Modeling: From Network Generation to Dynamic Processescited by 0