Alkis Gounaris

AiPi (Artificial Intelligence Principal Investigator) represents an attempt to integrate philosophical tools into an Artificial Intelligence environment to support interdisciplinary research and knowledge integration. Developed as part of a postdoctoral research project, it was designed as a specialised AI agent, primarily intended to assist the Principal Investigator (PI) of a research project. Its central objective is to make the epistemological and semantic assumptions underlying collaboration among researchers from different disciplines more visible, explicit, and open to negotiation.

The development of AiPi is based on the hypothesis that significant difficulties in interdisciplinary collaboration arise not merely from communication problems but also from differences in epistemological stances, theoretical assumptions, methodological approaches, and the use of scientific concepts. Identifying and clarifying these differences can facilitate the establishment of a shared frame of reference and more effective knowledge integration.

In its pilot version, AiPi operates within the ChatGPT environment and is configured with philosophical, epistemological, and organisational content drawn from the relevant literature, the variables of the Epistemological Profile Radar (EPR), and the Epistemic Virtue Index (EVI). Rather than functioning merely as an information repository, it provides an interactive environment in which researchers can examine concepts, explore assumptions, and identify potential differences in their initial positions.

AiPi's distinctive feature lies in connecting the diagnosis of epistemological stances with their philosophically informed analysis and interpretation. Its current pilot version offers three main functions:

Chatbot. AiPi serves as a conversational partner on questions concerning research objectives, methodologies, roles, philosophy of science, and interdisciplinary knowledge integration. It can explain concepts such as theory-ladenness, justification, epistemic virtue, and semantic disagreement, facilitating mutual understanding among researchers.

Analyzer. AiPi analyses EPR results. Users can enter their epistemological profile in JSON format and receive an interpretation of the eight variables, together with a comparative assessment against the functional ranges of the EVI. They can also compare the profiles of different research team members to identify potential convergences and divergences. The purpose is not to rank or evaluate researchers, but to promote epistemological self-awareness and facilitate the early identification of potential difficulties in collaboration.

AI Tutor. AiPi provides concise, targeted explanations and educational support on issues related to the philosophy of science, epistemology, and interdisciplinarity, helping researchers understand the theoretical foundations of research collaboration.

A fourth function, Partner, is planned for a subsequent stage of development. Through this function, AiPi will contribute to the construction of a project-specific Dynamic Ontology, supporting the identification of key terms, conceptual ambiguities, and divergent meanings. This process is intended to facilitate the gradual development of a shared conceptual framework among researchers working across different scientific traditions and linguistic communities.

AiPi is not intended to replace the Principal Investigator or the scientific judgement of individual researchers. Instead, it aims to function as a philosophically informed mediator, supporting epistemic and semantic alignment and, in the longer term, contributing to the development of a shared research culture.

You can access AiPi to interact with the assistant, analyse your epistemological profile by entering the JSON generated by the EPR, and compare your profile with those of other members of your research team.

Access the AI Tool:

https://chatgpt.com/g/g-684db6979ac08191aff35cbab05e77f1-aipi

Note: The link will remain active until 11 December 2026.