Infrastructure Systems as Distributed Cognitive Architectures: A Human–AI Framework for Governance and Knowledge Circulation

This preprint proposes a new perspective on infrastructure systems as distributed cognitive architectures. Rather than treating infrastructure as a purely physical or regulatory system, the paper argues that knowledge emerges through continuous interaction among human actors, AI systems, operational environments, and governance structures. The proposed Distributed Cognitive Circulation framework introduces human experiential interpretation as the central mechanism through which information becomes actionable knowledge. The work forms part of a broader research program exploring human–AI interaction, recursive knowledge circulation, and distributed cognitive systems.