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Interactions that reshape the interfaces of the interacting parties

arXiv 2602.17917 ↗First posted 20 Feb 2026math.CT cs.LGcited by 0

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Abstract (arXiv)

Polynomial functors model systems with interfaces: each polynomial specifies the outputs a system can produce and, for each output, the inputs it accepts. The bicategory mathbbOrg of dynamic organizations citespivak2021learners gives a notion of state-driven interaction patterns that evolves over time, but each system's interface remains fixed throughout the interaction. Yet in many systems, the outputs sent and inputs received can reshape the interface itself: a cell differentiating in response to chemical signals gains or loses receptors; a sensor damaged by its input loses a channel; a neural network may grow its output resolution during training. Here we introduce *polynomial trees*, elements of the terminal (utriangleleft u)-coalgebra where u is the polynomial associated to a universe of sets, to model such systems: a polynomial tree is a coinductive tree whose nodes carry polynomials, and in which each round of interaction -- an output chosen and an input received -- determines a child tree, hence the next interface. We construct a monoidal closed category PolyTr of polynomial trees, with coinductively-defined morphisms, tensor product, and internal hom. We then build a bicategory mathbbOrgTr generalizing mathbbOrg, whose hom-categories parametrize morphisms by state sets with coinductive action-and-update data. We provide a locally fully faithful functor mathbbOrg→mathbbOrgTr via constant trees, those for which the interfaces do not change through time. We illustrate the generalization by suggesting a notion of progressive generative adversarial networks, where gradient feedback determines when the image-generation interface grows to a higher resolution.

Key facts. No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026). Builds on 5 of its 18 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 20 Feb 2026.

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References · 5

  1. 2017Progressive Growing of GANs for Improved Quality, Stability, and Variationcited by 2,988
  2. 2013The operad of wiring diagrams: formalizing a graphical language for databases, recursion, and plug-and-play circuitscited by 9
  3. 2021Learners' Languagescited by 6
  4. 2022An Algebraic Framework for Structured Epidemic Modelingcited by 3
  5. 2020No-Go Theorems for Distributive Lawscited by 1

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