Protocolized debuts a new visual art direction for issue #71, releasing two custom image generation models developed by artist Darius Ou and editor James Langdon in collaboration with TITLES. The shift moves away from Midjourney-generated imagery influenced by 1950s pulp sci-fi toward a more conceptually grounded aesthetic inspired by John W. Campbell's editorial approach in Astounding Stories.
This issue features worldbuilding analysis of the AI-generated film South Beast Asia, examining ten core traits designed to explore distributed AI systems through a Southeast Asian-inspired lens developed at the Khlongs & Subaks workshop. The piece unpacks how fictional 'strange rules' address questions of AI distribution while the issue also hosts a guest talk with AI Snake Oil author Arvind Sarayanan.
Sam Chua
This issue explores chores as a fundamentally under-theorized domain and proposes protocols as a solution to the persistent coordination failures that plague communal living arrangements. The editorial argues that while anarchist approaches fail in practice due to human inconsistency, protocolized systems can provide the structural support needed to sustain cooperative maintenance without relying on fallible human operators or institutions.
Daniel Kronovet
Protocolized has extended the deadline for its Building and Burning Bridges short story contest to December 8, 2025, with a judging panel now assembled including Nils Gilman and Spencer Nitkey. The magazine is preparing to publish its fourth protocol fiction anthology following the success of three previous collections, and invites writers to join a community feedback call on December 4.
Timber Stinson-Schroff