Cognitive Infrastructure Failure (CIF): Sense-Making in AI-Mediated Systems

This working reference outlines Cognitive Infrastructure Failure (CIF) as a pattern that can arise when interpretive, planning, and reasoning functions are increasingly externalized to AI-mediated systems. The document describes observable signatures, common failure patterns, and illustrative diagnostic prompts relevant to UX design, AI safety, and governance discussions. It is provided as a reference for research, design review, and system-level analysis, rather than for individual diagnosis or prescriptive intervention.