The symbiotic roles of artificial intelligence and human intelligence in advancing knowledge ecosystem

Purpose Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a conceptual idea to an integral part of human life, transforming the way people work, communicate and navigate the world. Following the technological advancement, a symbiotic relationship has emerged between AI and human intelligence (AI–HI), affecting the development of the knowledge ecosystem knowledge ecosystem (KE). Yet, as the underlying effect mechanism is still unclear, this research is thus keen to bridge the knowledge gap. Design/methodology/approach To deliver the research purpose, an interpretative and qualitative methodology is planned, in which a systematic literature review is used for data analysis. The authors have gathered literature of AI–HI, KE and cognate themes from the renowned database portals, including ProQuest, JSTOR and Google Scholar. Strategies to improve research analytic rigor are arranged, and ethical guidelines are also applied. Findings Research findings are meaningful in three ways: First, the authors have clarified how AI enhances HI by rapidly processing vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and generating insights that would take humans significantly longer to uncover. Second, the findings have demonstrated that HI remains essential for interpreting AI-generated outputs, ensuring ethical considerations and applying contextual knowledge that machines lack, fostering a balanced knowledge ecosystem. Third, the synergy between AI and HI leads to more innovative problem-solving, interdisciplinary research advancements and accelerated scientific discoveries, ultimately transforming the landscape of knowledge creation. Practical implications Several practical implications arise from the integration of AI and HI for the advancement of KE for institutional decision-making. Organizations and research institutions can implement AI–HI-driven decision support systems, wherein AI generates data-driven recommendations, while human expertise ensures critical evaluation, ethical considerations and contextual relevance in developing KE and in final decision-making. Across diverse disciplines, researchers can integrate AI models with human expertise to address complex problems, for instance, using AI in humanities research or applying machine learning techniques in medical diagnostics, with human oversight for validation. To maintain the integrity of the knowledge ecosystem, institutions should develop robust frameworks in which AI-generated insights undergo rigorous scrutiny by human experts, ensuring fairness, transparency and alignment with ethical standards. Originality/value The manuscript has advanced the KE knowledge by clarifying the symbiotic roles of AI and HI, such as how AI augments human creativity, intuition and strategic thinking while humans guide AI’s analytical precision and computational strength. Based on research findings, the authors develop ethical guidelines to ensure that AI contributions in KE align with human-centered knowledge goals, emphasizing AI as a complement to human creativity rather than a replacement.