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Brendan McCord

Philosophy & Technology

Brendan McCord is a prominent figure at the intersection of artificial intelligence, philosophy, and entrepreneurship. He served as a Visiting Fellow in Philosophy at St Catherine's College, University of Oxford from November 2023 to February 2025.42 McCord is the founder and Chair of the Cosmos Institute, an academy focused on developing "philosopher-builders" to guide AI toward human flourishing.3

In his career, McCord has achieved significant success in both the private and public sectors:

  1. Private sector:

    • Founded two AI startups that were acquired for $400 million.13
    • Served as President of Acrisure, leading data and AI initiatives for a major insurance business.4
    • Led an in-house AI lab at Tulco, an investment holding company.4
  2. Public sector:

    • Founded the first applied AI organization for the U.S. Department of Defense.13
    • Authored the DoD's first AI strategy.13

McCord's educational background includes:

  • Degrees from MIT and Harvard Business School.13
  • Co-teaching a graduate seminar on AI and philosophy at the University of Oxford.3

Notably, after graduating from MIT, McCord spent 610 days underwater on a submarine.13 He currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife and two children.13

In February 2025, McCord joined the board of directors at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, further strengthening the institution's focus on artificial intelligence.56

Highlights

Cosmos Institute
Feb 6 · mercatus.org
Mercatus Center Strengthens AI Focus with Addition of Brendan ...
Dec 30 · aspeninstitute.org
Brendan McCord - The Aspen Institute
Sep 18 · mercatus.org
Brendan McCord | Mercatus Center
Brendan McCord | Mercatus Center
Sep 4 · bigthink.com
Brendan McCord - Big Think
Brendan McCord - Big Think
Sep 4 · youtube.com
How ancient philosophers would shape AI | Brendan McCord
How ancient philosophers would shape AI | Brendan McCord
Mar 28 · youtube.com
Brendan McCord — AI and the Philosophy of Technology - YouTube
Brendan McCord — AI and the Philosophy of Technology - YouTube

Related Questions

What are the main topics Brendan McCord covers in his seminars at Oxford?
How does Brendan McCord's background in AI startups influence his philosophical work?
What is the Cosmos Institute, and what are its main goals?
How does Brendan McCord integrate his experience in the military with his work in AI and philosophy?
What are some of the key ethical principles Brendan McCord has developed for AI?
Brendan McCord
Brendan McCord, photo 1
Brendan McCord, photo 2
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Location

Austin, Texas, United States