Journal of System Simulation ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (7): 1607-1623.doi: 10.16182/j.issn1004731x.joss.25-0451

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Thinking on Simulation Science and Engineering in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Fan Wenhui, Jiang YuanChiang Yuan   

  1. Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  • Received:2025-05-20 Revised:2025-06-12 Online:2025-07-18 Published:2025-07-30

Abstract:

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and computing technologies, simulation technologies have leapfrogged, propelling the discipline of simulation toward greater maturity. Research progress in computer simulation technologies both in China and abroad was reviewed, and the definition and connotation of simulation were clarified. It was proposed that the Chinese terms "仿真" "仿效"and "模拟" be unified under a single term "仿真" with corresponding "Simulation" "Emulation" and "Analog" in English translated uniformly as "Simulation". Simulation science and engineering discipline was delineated, which was grounded in three core theoretical foundations: analogical theory, computational theory, and model validation theory. The first-level discipline was proposed to be simulation science and engineering. Five theories and methodologies were introduced, including numerical simulation, statistical simulation, intelligent-agent simulation, visual simulation, and symbiotic simulation, which were suggested as second-level disciplines. This article analyzed and summarized the simulation applications in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Developments in computer simulation technologies in the era of AI were summarized across five key domains,elaborating the application in the simulation of machine learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning, generative adversarial networks, physics-informed neural networks, and large language models.

Key words: artificial intelligence, simulation science, simulation engineering, simulation method, simulation technology

CLC Number: