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Home » The Kludge Effect: Where Tech Meets Human Nature

The Kludge Effect: Where Tech Meets Human Nature

 

At first glance, The Kludge Effect might seem like a collection of seemingly unrelated topics: artificial intelligence, ethical algorithms, autonomous systems, well-being, and sustainable business success. But there’s a deep connection that ties it all together.

The Kludge Effect is my way of approaching complex technological and ethical dilemmas—nodding to the quirks of tech language (and my frequently mispronounced name), while offering holistic, evidence-based solutions for today’s most pressing challenges. It’s not about isolated fixes; it’s about seeing how technology, human needs, and values intersect to create the bigger picture.

As technology reshapes our world, we face critical questions about its role in our lives, particularly in how it impacts children’s safety, our collective happiness, and how we build better, more responsible business practices. I invite you to join me in untangling these thorny, but essential, issues. Together, we’ll explore not just how tech works, but how it can work for us—all with a touch of humor, nuance, and compassion.

Thank you for being part of this journey. I hope you find these reflections both enlightening and thought-provoking.

Sometimes our focus becomes so narrow that we miss the bigger picture. Other times, we step back so far that we lose sight of the important details.

By aligning our intentions with what is truly good, we can develop the awareness to adjust our perspective, allowing us to address both extremes—seeing both the forest and the trees.

This is why I describe it as a holistic approach. I hope you enjoy these posts, and that they bring you clarity in your personal, and or professional journey’s.

Girl with flowers
Girl with flowers II
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte - 1884

Analysis of GPT-4o System Card for Potential Compliance Failures

Analysis of GPT-4o System Card for Potential Compliance Failures: Potential Compliance Failures: Lack of Clear Compliance Framework: The GPT-4o System Card doesn’t explicitly reference any specific compliance standards or frameworks. This makes it difficult to assess compliance against established benchmarks. Limited Scope of External Red Teaming: While the report mentions

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Likely to Be Accessed by Children…

The Guide to Building AI, Algorithmic, and Autonomous Systems Intended for, and Not for Children Protecting children’s privacy in the digital realm is a pressing ethical obligation as AI, algorithms, and autonomous systems become increasingly pervasive. I unpack the nuances of assessing whether these systems are likely to be accessed

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What the C-Suite and Boards should know about Cognitive Bias.

The Role of Ethics Committees – Embracing the Known, Acknowledging the Unknown, and Empowering the Discerning Over 300 identified cognitive biases invisibly shape our decisions, often without conscious awareness. These biases can significantly impact ethical considerations across various domains, from FinTech, MedTech, and technology that engages with children.  I explore

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First Principles Thinking: Questioning Assumptions to Guide Ethical AI

Executive Briefing on Medium SubStack 7 Minute read Unveiling Assumptions in AI Governance: A First Principles Approach In the dynamic realm of artificial intelligence (AI), algorithms, and automated systems, collectively known as AAA Systems, a prominent venture capitalist recently emphasized the transformative power of First Principles thinking in their deployment.

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Top Ten Downloaded paper for Ethical Decision Making

In a rare short blog post, I want to share the links for the platforms on which my paper and various shorter versions are posted. SSRN Understanding the Distinction Between Technical and Governance Audits for AI: A Critical Analysis SubStack:  Moving Beyond Technical Audits: The Imperative of AI Governance Medium: 

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My “Fireside” chat with the AI’s.

In what may become an ongoing project based on user feedback, here is an open-hearted conversation with three AI systems – Bard, ChatGPT, and Claude. We are both witness to and subject of exponential technological advancements that will have immediate and profound impacts on our lives: Generative Artificial Intelligence. The

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Technical vs. AI Governance Audit

Shortly after its publishing, the paper “Understanding the Distinction Between Technical and Governance Audits for AI: A Critical Analysis” captured the top ten downloaded list the following topics: 1. Law, Policy & Economics of Technical Standards eJournal Top Ten. 2. DecisionSciRN: Technology Policies (Sub-Topic) Top Ten. & 3. Ethical Decision

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Lesson 30:

Now is a Gift. It is why we call it the Present. What happened in the Past is History; and does not define who you are Now. While pain and mistakes happen as a part of Being a Human, we choose how we control This Moment. Learn from the past

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Lesson 29:

Empathy The new leadership and personal super power for the roaring ’20’s. Counterpoint: The purpose of a counterpoint is to discuss and reflect on what a dissenting opinion may be. I hope to make my point through a story. Having empathy and looking at the world through another’s perspective is

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Lesson 28:

Rewarding the Wrong Behavior Walking back implied policy standards to those who were in the shadows.

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Lesson 27:

Happiness Yoga: HOGA ™ Simple and Tiny Steps Leading to Greater Happiness and Fulfillment. Honesty: is not just of what we say externally, but the internal stories we tell ourselves. Are we being honest with ourselves and asking questions to pry to the core of why we do what we

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Lesson 25:

The Rise of the Ethics Committee The PLACE Framework is a holistic approach to the next level of leadership development and considers the following: A Plan, the Lesson itself, Action, Counterpoints and the Explanation WHY its purpose is valuable. Psychology taught us to gain a greater efficacy of a desired

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