koandriven

Koandriven is a term used in speculative design and theoretical discussions to describe a class of systems that advance through koan-inspired problem solving. In this context, a koan is a paradox or riddle used to provoke reflection; a koandriven system uses paradoxical prompts to drive exploration of alternative strategies, rather than optimizing a single objective.

The term blends "koan" and "driven" and is used to explore how agents confronting self-contradictory or ill-posed challenges might develop more flexible or robust behaviors. It originated in design fiction and AI safety discourse in the early 2020s and has since appeared in discussions about cognitive architectures, robotics, and education tools.

Principles emphasize iterative paradox resolution, reflective loops, and a structured form of human-in-the-loop oversight. A koandriven system typically alternates between autonomous exploration and guided reinterpretation of prompts, aiming to reveal unintended strategies and test resilience to shifts in goals or context.

Applications and status: it remains largely theoretical and experimental. Proponents see potential for stress-testing decision-making, reducing brittleness in autonomous agents, and fostering diverse problem-solving approaches. Critics caution that the concept is ill-defined, hard to operationalize, and may be impractical for large-scale deployment.

See also: Koan; Design fiction; AI alignment; Reflective practice. Overall, koandriven is best understood as a thought experiment or design framework within speculative contexts, rather than a currently implemented technology or standardized methodology.