RON BRONSON

Ron Bronson studies how automated systems reshape human judgment and organizational decision-making, from the platform economy's externalities on everyday life to what happens when civic trust gets outsourced to software. He is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Urban Technology at the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning, where his current research focuses on AI risk, disintermediation, and making these tradeoffs visible and quantifiable. He writes theory, develops frameworks, and ships code.

Previously, Ron spent nearly eight years at 18F, the federal digital services agency whose closure in 2025 drew national attention, mostly recently as Head of Design. He's worked in the past on engagements with the White House, Office of Personnel Management, Department of Defense, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Treasury among others. His earlier work on consequence design, examining how poorly designed systems shift risk, labor, and harm downstream, continues to inform his current research on state capacity and multilateral service delivery, which he speaks about at events around the world.

Outside of work, Ron is a state championship-winning high school tennis coach, a radio news anchor, co-host of Future Perfect Book Club podcast, President Emeritus of AIGA Portland, and an Air Force veteran. He also offers private coaching for practitioners navigating career transitions and leadership challenges.