B. Scot Rousse

B. Scot Rousse (“B”) is a philosopher of technology specializing in existential phenomenology and its applications to AI. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from Northwestern University, is currently “Philosopher in Residence” at Topos Institute, and a visiting scholar in Philosophy at UC Berkeley, where he also occasionally teaches.

B wrote his PhD on Heidegger with Hubert Dreyfus, whose work on skill, embodiment, and artificial intelligence has shaped his approach to technology. Through Hubert, he developed a close working relationship with Stuart Dreyfus, with whom he co-authored an updated version of their influential "Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition." His conviction in philosophy's practical relevance was confirmed through many years working with Fernando Flores to help organizations transform their practices of conversation and coordination.

From 2020 to 2022, he was part of the "Beyond Computers and Cognition Group" alongside Flores, Terry Winograd, Don Norman, and Arturo Escobar, exploring questions at the intersection of philosophy, technology, and design. B has also been drumming in punk bands his entire life. He writes at withoutwhy.substack.com. More about his scholarly work can be found on his Google Scholar page.