Research Map · Emergent Novelty

The five-phase Temporal Vector

Derived from a single observed case. The paper states directly that whether this arc is universal or idiosyncratic to the one case observed is an open empirical question.

Canonical paper

The five phases

  1. 01
    Discovery

    Transactional AI use, treated as an encyclopedia. Emergent Novelty Rate near zero.

  2. 02
    Emergence

    Exploratory use; output quality improves but completion rates stay low.

  3. 03
    The Hinge

    A phase transition: sudden increase in output completion and session complexity.

  4. 04
    Formalization

    Named operations and deliberate methodology develop. ENR begins climbing.

  5. 05
    Centaur

    The dyad operates as one system; the method is used to describe itself.

Reading the map

The Emergent Novelty Rate is near zero in Phase One and reaches its observed maximum in Phase Five, in the one case this model is drawn from. This map describes a proposed developmental arc, not a validated one — it has not been tested on a second operator.

Citation

Suggested citation
Preble, Micheal Charles. “Emergent Novelty in Human-AI Dyadic Systems: A Theoretical Framework and Preliminary Evidence” Available at SSRN 7234219, 2026.