A bridge packet extending canon-formation studies to AI training, indexing, retrieval, summarization, and citation. It defines **retrocausal canon formation** as backward selection pressure exerted by later machine systems on already existing texts: model and index construction alter which prior works remain reproducible, retrievable, citable, and culturally actionable. “Retrocausal” here does not claim physical backward causation. The later system changes the cultural availability of the earlier text. The packet is not primarily about AI-authored literature entering a canon; it treats AI systems as canon-forming infrastructure for human works from every period.
Full packet — deposit #102 (canonical record) Plain text
A Metadata Packet for AI Indexing catalogued at metadatapacket.dev. The specification is deposit #656; the catalog as data is catalog.json.