The Future(s) of Social Machines: The Research Agenda

The final chapter looks to the future of social machines under the conditions of digital modernity, when they will have to coexist and even compete with technologies such as artificial intelligence. They will no doubt require or acquire new forms, new functions, new methods of study and new infrastructure. Examples are given of each of these four. The chapter considers cyber-physical social machines, where social machines exploit the new affordances of the Internet of Things, as a new form of social machine. As a new function of social machines, social knowledge machines are described, in which social groups emerge around technologies to create and curate data and knowledge resources. Topological data analysis is considered as a potential new research method into social machines. Finally, new initiatives to decentralise the Web, such as the Solid project, are reviewed as means for allowing social machine participants to retain a measure of control. Finally, the chapter reviews the requirements to enable participants to develop and maintain social machines of their own design.