Indexical Collapse: Reference Disappears, Authority Remains in Predictive Systems

Abstract

This article introduces the concept of Indexical Collapse, the disappearance of reference in predictive systems. Indexical such as pronouns, demonstratives, and tenses presuppose a contextual anchor, yet predictive language models reproduce them without connection to reality. The outcome is a collapse of reference that paradoxically produces authority effects in law, medicine, and governance. By analyzing judicial transcripts, medical reports, institutional records, and chatbot interactions generated by AI, the paper proposes a framework for pragmatic auditing of predictive outputs. It establishes thresholds for acceptable referential absence in critical domains, positioning Indexical Collapse as a central category for evaluating the legitimacy of predictive discourse.

 

DOI

• Primary archive: <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17226412" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(47, 111, 167);" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17226412</a>
• Secondary archive: <a href="https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.30233950" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(47, 111, 167);" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.30233950</a>
• SSRN: Pending assignment (ETA: Q3 2025)

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