The development of generative artificial intelligence has led to a major transformation in the paradigm of knowledge production, giving rise to the human-machine soft fusion knowledge production paradigm. This paradigm specifically refers to a framework in which artificial intelligence incorporates human-intelligence-shaped data resources through big data to generate digital intelligence, enabling collaborative knowledge production through the fusion of humans and digital intelligence. As a crucial foundation of the human-machine soft fusion knowledge production paradigm, digital intelligence involves information at a deeper level. Understanding the human-machine soft fusion knowledge production paradigm at the information level not only provides a higher-level overall perspective on the history of knowledge production development but also allows for a more penetrating assessment of future trends in knowledge production. As the highest-level knowledge production paradigm at present, the human-machine soft fusion paradigm provides key insights for systematically understanding the paradigm shift in knowledge production, pointing to three major trends in the development of knowledge production.

digital intelligence, human-machine soft fusion,  knowledge production, disciplinary integration, cognitive approach