Writing & Presentations

Selected published commentary and presentations on technology governance, cyber ethics, and international law.

Upcoming presentation

Human Judgment in the Loop: A Practical Framework for Responsible AI Decisions in Higher Education

Accepted · Forthcoming
CUNY Professional Development Conference · Virtual
Conference dates: 9–10 November 2026 · 60-minute workshop

I have been selected to lead an interactive workshop for CUNY faculty and staff on responsible AI decisions in higher education. The session connects AI-governance principles with everyday decisions about accuracy, bias, privacy, and human accountability.

Through a student-services case, polling, and small-group discussion, participants will practice deciding when AI may be used, when outputs require independent verification, and when human judgment must control the decision.

Participants will receive a practical six-question checklist to apply the framework to AI-assisted tasks in their own work.

Published commentary

It's Time to Treat New York's AI Building Systems the Same as Fire Systems

Commercial Observer · 26 August 2025 · Commentary

In this article, I argued for ongoing oversight of AI-enabled systems that control important building functions, including independent review, change management, and cybersecurity safeguards. The article is a policy argument, rather than a report of an adopted regulatory programme.

Past presentations

Cyber Ethics in Practice: A Systems-Based Framework for Global Cyber Policy and Diplomacy

Geneva Cyber Week · Geneva, Switzerland · 8 May 2026

I presented this collaborative framework in person during an interactive workshop on ethical decision-making in cyber governance. The work was developed with a research team including Professor Zhanna L. Shank, Peder Nelsen, and Nakeesha Van Wyk; Professor Shank organized the session through Systems Ethics Advisory LLC.

The workshop used a scenario to examine competing responsibilities and stakeholder perspectives. Geneva Cyber Week was organized by UNIDIR and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

Mary Michaels speaking at a conference table beneath a projected cyber-ethics case study.
Mary Michaels presenting collaborative cyber-ethics research at Geneva Cyber Week, Geneva, 8 May 2026.