Research II · Science and Technology Studies · PROTOCOL

🔬 PCR_AI

The Production and Control of Representations in Artificial Intelligence

Research II examines the structural relations through which representations are constituted before they reach a recipient, treating representation itself as the central analytical object.

5
Functional Units
5
Authority Types
6
Lifecycle Stages
20
Research Questions

📋 Project

FieldValue
Full titleResearch II — The Production and Control of Representations in Artificial Intelligence
Version0.1.0
StageArchitecture Specification · Research Protocol
LicenseMIT (code) · CC-BY-4.0 (docs, manuscript, figures)
DomainScience and Technology Studies
DOI10.5281/zenodo.23940837
OSF DOI10.17605/OSF.IO/8NZV2
Figshare DOI10.6084/m9.figshare.34908597

📄 Central Question

"Who produces the representations a recipient encounters through AI systems, who controls their formation, availability, and appearance, and who consumes them?"

This question is structural, not accusatory or normative. It does not presuppose that production, control, and consumption are each located in a single entity.

📚 Foundational Documents (All Adopted, v0.2)

DocumentVersionStatus
Conceptual Architecture0.2✅ Adopted
Authority Structure0.2✅ Adopted
Representation Lifecycle0.2✅ Adopted
Research Questions0.2✅ Adopted

🔧 Five Functional Units

UnitFunction
ProducerOriginates or supplies representational material
Model / Generative SystemTransforms inputs into a representation
Platform / ControllerGoverns conditions of production, presentation, availability
Distribution InterfaceDetermines how representation reaches recipient
Recipient / ConsumerReceives and engages with representation

⚖️ Five Authority Types

AuthorityCentral Question
ProductionWho originates?
TransformationWho modifies?
SelectionWho shows/hides?
DistributionWho grants access?
InterpretiveWhose meaning counts?

🔄 Six Lifecycle Stages

StageDescription
1. OriginationRepresentation constituted from material
2. TransformationRepresentation modified or regenerated
3. SelectionRepresentation included in/excluded from presented set
4. DistributionRepresentation made available (or restricted)
5. ReceptionRepresentation reaches recipient
6. Re-originationRecipient produces new representation (distinct category)

❓ Twenty Research Questions (4 Families)

FamilyQuestionsFocus
A — ConceptualRQ-A1, RQ-A2, RQ-A3The analytical categories themselves
B — AuthorityRQ-B1 – RQ-B6The distribution and exercise of authority
C — LifecycleRQ-C1 – RQ-C5The paths and interruptions of representations
D — BoundaryRQ-D1, RQ-D2Relation to Research I and methodological scope

📊 Methodological Scope (v0.2 — Adopted)

ApproachRoleSystems
Document AnalysisPrimaryChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity
Case StudySecondaryChatGPT
Comparative AnalysisTertiaryAll four systems

Timeline: 10–14 weeks (Phase 1: 4–6, Phase 2: 3–4, Phase 3: 3–4).

📖 Literature Review (4 Stages)

StageFocusStatus
Stage 1Categorical positioning (16 categories × 5 traditions)✅ Completed
Stage 2Reference-level verification (56 references)✅ Completed
Stage 2bTargeted verification of Distinct categories✅ Completed
Stage 3Synthesis draft (Section 2)✅ Draft complete

⚠️ Scope & Limits

What Research II supports:

  • Structural analysis of AI-mediated representations.
  • Five-function architecture with five foundational distinctions.
  • Five-authority structure separated from function.
  • Six-stage lifecycle with canonical and five alternative paths.
  • Twenty research questions across four families.
  • Open manuscript (CC-BY-4.0) and open code (MIT).

What Research II does not support:

  • Empirical findings (no data collected).
  • Causal claims (descriptive structural analysis only).
  • Integration with Research I (RQ-D1 deferred).
  • 52 DOIs remain unverified.

📚 Citation

APA: Baladi, S. (2026). The Production and Control of Representations in Artificial Intelligence — Research II (Version 0.1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23940837

@techreport{baladi2026research2,
  author       = {Baladi, Samir},
  title        = {The Production and Control of Representations in Artificial Intelligence --- Research II},
  institution  = {Ronin Institute / Rite of Renaissance},
  type         = {Research Protocol},
  year         = {2026},
  month        = {November},
  version      = {0.1.0},
  doi          = {10.5281/zenodo.23940837},
  url          = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23940837}
}

📊 Status

ComponentStatus
ManuscriptPublished (Zenodo · Figshare · OSF)
Python packagePending (PyPI: pcr-ai)
WebsitePublished (Netlify)
Foundational Documents4 (all adopted, v0.2)
Literature Review4 stages completed
Methodological Scopev0.2 (adopted)
Empirical WorkNot performed
Causal ClaimsNone (research protocol)

Version 0.1.0 published. This is an architecture and a research protocol, not findings. No empirical work has been performed.