Cognitive Resonance

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About The Founder

Benjamin Riley is the founder of Cognitive Resonance. Previously, he founded and led Deans for Impact, an education nonprofit organization working to improve how teachers are prepared using the science of learning. His ideas on cognitive science, AI, and education have appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Le Monde, The Guardian, Education Week, Education Next, The74, NPR and elsewhere. His other professional experiences include conducting research on the New Zealand education system; working as the policy director for an education nonprofit organization; and serving as deputy attorney general for the State of California. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and J.D. from the Yale Law School.

Message from Ben 📧

Hi, I’m Benjamin Riley, the founder of Cognitive Resonance. My goal with this new venture is to help people better understand how we humans think, and how generative AI works. What makes me qualified to do this, you ask? Well, I have spent the bulk of my career trying to spread ideas from cognitive science into broader society. I previously founded and led a US-based education nonprofit organization called Deans for Impact that dedicated to improving classroom teaching through use of this science. Through that work, I developed relationships with some of the world’s leading cognitive scientists, and I have spent much of the past decade thinking about how principles of cognitive science can be used to improve our daily lives. The commercial deployment of ChatGPT spurred me to try to better understand how these systems do what they do. I spent significant time talking to some of the world’s leading researchers in this space, working to develop a basic “mental model” for how generative AI operates. This learning journey made me realize that cognitive science can help us understand how these tools function, at a level most any reasonably educated adult can understand. Or as one friend said after hearing about Cognitive Resonance, “you’re trying to explain AI to the Average Joe.” In my free time, I enjoy exploring embodied cognition (by kickboxing), animal cognition (by fly fishing), and emerging cognition (by being a dad to my wonderful daughter Vivienne).

Message from Ben

Message from Ben 📧

Our Philosophy

We are Pro-Human.

We are unapologetic fans of human beings. Unlike many in the AI space, we have no interest in pushing you to use this technology. Our goal instead is to help you better understand the impressive power of human minds while building your knowledge of how generative AI works.

We are Pro-Science.

Our work is grounded in using the tools of science to understand how we think, and how generative AI produces its output. We also believe in the best values of science—such as inquiry, skepticism, tolerance, and debate. In all our work we eschew grandiose claims and instead embrace humility and uncertainty about the future.

We are Pro-Pragmatism.

Some people believe generative AI will transform every aspect of life, for good or for ill. We offer a pragmatic perspective that sits in between these extremes, one that sees generative AI as simply a tool. We want people to think critically about this technology so they can decide for themselves whether and how to make use of it.

Our Unique Role In The Landscape

Cognitive Resonance is uniquely positioned in the AI landscape because we are pragmatic, pro-science, and pro-human. We have no stake in getting you to adopt AI, and we are unafraid to highlight its many limitations.

How We Work

Cognitive Resonance is a virtual organization that partners with scientists and other experts to develop and deliver its offerings. The people listed below have collaborated with us or inspired our work (or both).