The Semiotics of Latency: Deciphering the Invisible Patterns of the New Digital World

Abstract

This paper explores the “semiotics of latency,” examining how the discipline of signs can provide insights into the increasingly invisible dimensions of contemporary communication, especially with the rise of digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The study proposes that semiotics has become more relevant today as it can reveal the latent aspects of communication, which have expanded significantly with technological advancements. The discussion spans various themes including invisibility, subtlety, infrastructure, transcendence, magic, sentience, immateriality, and minority, offering a nuanced understanding of how latent spaces – particularly in AI – shape meaning in modern contexts. By tracing historical perspectives from figures like Girolamo Cardano and Robert Hooke to contemporary phenomena like AI-generated content and its societal impacts, the paper argues for a “subtle reading” approach in semiotics. This approach bridges close reading and distant reading methods to decode the complex, often invisible infrastructures that underlie digital communication. The exploration of these hidden spaces suggests new horizons for understanding both the potential and the ethical implications of AI and digital technologies, positioning semiotics as a critical tool for navigating the unseen forces that increasingly influence our lives.