Enabling 'AI'? The situated production of commensurabilities

Scholars often struggle to analyze digital systems without relying on problematic definitions of machine cognition. That uncertainty drove a need for new analytical frameworks within the field of technology studies. Prior research has shown that traditional debates frequently polarize around whether these tools possess genuine agency. No prior work had resolved how to study these infrastructures while maintaining a neutral, empirical stance. This paper addresses the gap by examining the social practices that sustain these digital entities. The authors reject the binary choice between celebrating or condemning these complex computational developments. Instead, they propose a shift toward observing the specific performances that bring these systems into existence. This perspective allows for a more nuanced understanding of how digital tools function in everyday life.

The aim of this study is to document the performances that make these systems appear or disappear in specific situations. This objective addresses the need to examine these technologies without relying on problematic definitions of intelligence. The researchers seek to move beyond the binary debate regarding the benefits or harms of these tools. This motivation stems from the desire to maintain an empirical and agnostic perspective. The authors intend to provide a new analytical path for scholars within the Science and Technology Studies tradition. They aim to show how these systems function as vast projects of standardization. This purpose is driven by the goal of uncovering the hidden labor behind digital infrastructures. By focusing on situated production, the study seeks to clarify how these technologies are sustained in real-world settings.

The authors adopt an agnostic, empirical approach to document the performances of these digital systems. This review approach avoids taking a position on the inherent benefits or harms of the technology. The researchers examine how these tools appear or disappear within specific, situated social contexts. This design focuses on the practical work that sustains these infrastructures in everyday life. The analysis draws upon the Science and Technology Studies tradition to question established notions of artificiality. By shifting the focus, the study avoids the common trap of debating whether these systems possess genuine intelligence. The methodology prioritizes the observation of localized interactions over abstract, theoretical definitions. This strategy allows for a detailed account of the social and technical processes involved in maintaining these systems.

The key findings from the literature suggest that these systems act as vast projects of standardization. This result indicates that the primary function of these tools is to make diverse information comparable. The study demonstrates that the appearance of these systems is a variable outcome of specific social performances. The evidence shows that these technologies can disappear when the necessary social work is absent. The researchers identify that the power of these systems lies in their ability to translate heterogeneous data into standardized formats. These findings highlight that the existence of these tools is not a fixed state. The analysis reveals that the labor behind these infrastructures is often hidden from view. This work confirms that focusing on situated practices provides a more accurate picture than debating abstract definitions.

The authors propose that these systems function primarily as vast projects of standardization. This synthesis suggests that the appearance of these tools depends on specific, localized social efforts. The evidence indicates that these technologies are not fixed objects but are constantly being negotiated. The researchers argue that focusing on these performances reveals the hidden labor behind digital infrastructure. This review implies that the power of these tools lies in their capacity to make diverse data comparable. The findings demonstrate that these systems can disappear when the necessary social work is absent. The authors conclude that studying these processes provides a more accurate picture than debating abstract definitions. This work shifts the focus toward the practical, situated activities that sustain modern digital environments.