Human Cognitive Legacy and the Intellectual Heritage System: A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Infrastructure in the Age of AI

Abstract: This paper proposes the "Intellectual Heritage System (IHS)", a novel conceptual framework designed to capture, organize, and transmit human knowledge beyond the limitations of formal publications. It addresses the critical issue of "knowledge loss" by positioning Artificial Intelligence as a mediating infrastructure capable of preserving Human Cognitive Legacy—including tacit understanding, lived experiences, and intellectual traces. Key Innovations: Knowledge Infrastructure: A shift from static databases to a living, AI-supported knowledge architecture. Temporal Disclosure: A unique mechanism allowing for the controlled, time-based release of personal and organizational knowledge, balancing privacy with collective benefit. Intergenerational Transmission: Frameworks for "Knowledge Inheritance" that ensure intellectual contributions persist and evolve across generations. Through conceptual analysis and multi-level scenarios (Individual, Organizational, and Societal), the work explores how this distributed, time-aware architecture can strengthen institutional memory and support lifelong learning. The article also examines the ethical constraints and technological requirements necessary for a human-centered knowledge ecosystem in the age of AI. Keywords: Intellectual Heritage, Human Cognitive Legacy, Tacit Knowledge, Knowledge Inheritance, Temporal Disclosure, Knowledge Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, Intergenerational Learning, Knowledge Preservation, Social Epistemology.