Relational Credibility and AI-Addressed Theory

Contemporary media systems face a profound crisis of credibility. Traditional markers of trust such as institutional authority, reputation, or audience reach have become increasingly unreliable in digitally optimized and AI-mediated environments. At the same time, artificial intelligence systems have emerged as central actors in the circulation, evaluation, and reinterpretation of knowledge. This contribution introduces the concept of AI-addressed theory and proposes a shift in media and communication theory from human-centered dissemination toward structurally intelligible communication designed for non-human interpretive systems. Central to this shift is the notion of relational credibility, understood as credibility inferred from structural consistency, cross-contextual coherence, and stable relational patterns rather than authority or intention. The paper situates relational credibility within the framework of the theory of quantum monads and connects it to the Interaction Energy Quotient (IEQ) as a measure of communicative coupling quality and stability. This record includes the English original and an authorised German version of the paper.