Courand, Gregory
Email: gregory.courand@sjsu.edu
Office Hours
• by appointment
Education
• Phd, Stanford University, 1991 ; Distributed Artificial Intelligence (and Cultural
Anthropology)
• MS, Stanford University, 1981 ; Systems Economics (and Optimization Theory)
• BE, Boston University, 1979 ; Electrical Engineering (and Philosophy)
Licenses and Certificates
Lecturer, San Jose State University (technology, human systems, ethics)
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Texas Health Sciences Center
Principal, Cybernetic Prospects
Bio
At San José State University I lecture on the interdependence of and co-evolution of disruptive technologies; social systems; and scientific, artistic, ethical, political, and other conceptual frameworks. For the College of Engineering, I have created curricula on technology and social justice, and on technology innovation as an emblem of culture.
As we look across technology, human systems, and ethical and other conceptual frameworks, the overarching theme is the role of value as humanity charts its course through periods of conflict and transformative change. We recognize the extraordinary disruption, challenges, and possibilities we may expect for the coming decades. This leads us to examine the coevolution of technology and society, as well as the profound importance of technology as an instrument of inequality, injustice, oppression ... and as a basis for illuminating and addressing harm. We also examine intentional change. Here, a special interest is ethical activism on behalf of human&biospheric regenerative systems; some of this work synthesizes over AI-based edge computing technology, formal experiments within ecosystems, and activism via social media.
My research program is to develop a foundational representation of human systems — Generative Criterial Systems© — which I created to support explanation, forecasting, analysis, design, and intentional change within human systems. As a representation it is well-founded (consistent with neurobiology; ability, personality and executive function; and social learning, cognition, and evolution). It supports the expression and testing of wide-ranging hypotheses, including within design and intervention. It is distinctly cybernetic and socio-cognitive, and spans skills, individual actors, and arbitrary social formations. Ultimately the work seeks to explore collective criteriality (within and across actors) as a basis for studying conflict, change, and ethical activism. Technology is considered for its implications in social practice, its influence on the social order, and its profound shaping of human thought, sociality, and governance. The work is fully integrated with formal decision/risk analysis, and a particular form of normative ethics. It allows for the representation of “hybrid intelligent systems” — systems composed of humans, intelligent artificial actors, and hybridized humans — that are starting to appear and soon will be pervasive.
Serving/served as advisor to Foundations, nonprofits, members of Congress, FBI, U.S. Embassy, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, International Space Station, and numerous healthcare enterprises.