Our world is beautifully complex, but it doesn't necessarily have to be as complicated as it is today.
Complex vs. Complicated
Being complex and complicated are fundamentally different. The former is always unpredictable, dynamic, interdependent, and self-organizing by nature. Numerous factors influence one another, and the output for a given input is probabilistic, if not completely random. There is no fixed rule of saying, "If you do this, that always happens."
Climate change, global politics, the economy, and the development of social creatures like human beings are all complex. Nothing guarantees any single consequence, and the phenomena can only be understood by the most reasonable likelihoods derived from what we already know. Yet, it is practically impossible to know everything due to the astronomical invisible factors. (Supercomputers and quantum algorithms might increase the odds by handling more data efficiently, though.)
The complicated things, on the other hand, show linearly predictable behaviours. They are like entangled strings; even if it seems impossible to decompose, the object is eventually a sum of simpler, static building blocks. As long as the input remains the same, a complicated system will consistently generate a similar output with minimal uncertainty. No matter how lengthy and messy they are, the intermediate logics can be written as a set of rules, i.e., algorithms, like factory machines and computer programs.
It is the redundancy embedded in our daily lives. An abundance of online tools and recommendations, bureaucracies and bullshit jobs, as well as varying "best practices" your neighbours may teach you, are the distractions and noises that make our world more redundant and complicated. Yes, there are some contexts worth examining (e.g., history, culture, and underlying dynamics). Nevertheless, if we spend sufficient time analyzing them, we can provide a decent explanation for why things are as they are and where they came from. Along the way, you will be frustrated by how much room there is to shorten or simplify the systems.
Knowing what we can and cannot change
Complex objects are so authentic and even look too naive at first; everyone agrees with their importance, but soon realizes the depth when we try to explain why. Some may even find a supernatural power in the complexity, and historically speaking, myths have helped humans remain innocent and autonomous in times of uncertainty.
By contrast, complicated things are artificially designed and implemented by a person or a group of people. Even if they are well-intentioned, an incentive mechanism can override the intentions with skewed power dynamics and negative externalities, and there will always be winners and losers among those who are part of complicated systems.
We often overlook this distinction and waste our finite resources.
On the one hand, people tend to focus too much on complex matters and "do our best" without logic, as if aimlessly flipping a coin until they see the head 100 times in a row. Consequently, ambitious initiatives often lack structure at the activity level.
A non-profit, for example, aims to alleviate poverty. It is a complex task that needs further elaboration. Still, under a slogan of "meaningful work," they have this delusion that everything they do, from fundraising to food and cash distribution to storytelling, makes the world better in a tangible way. Unfortunately, though, the good feeling is not necessarily accurate.
Meanwhile, others are stunned by unseen complications and become unnecessarily hopeless. Whenever they encounter difficult situations, they believe these are untouchable and beyond their control, giving up as soon as they recognize the overwhelming volume of inputs.
The same non-profit may encounter numerous possibilities that AI tools bring to their meaningful work. However, since they think it's complex due to a lack of domain knowledge, they take an easier route: continue whatever we are doing now, without thinking much about how to restructure, simplify, and optimize their work.
There must be a middle ground.
In practice, there are things we can and cannot manipulate. You can (should) think big, but ultimately, a big impact requires the ripple effect of tangible small changes on the ground.
Be SMART
Therefore, changemakers need to translate their ambition into actionable steps. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2063 Agenda, and any organizational visions and strategic plans you create help us make sense of the complexity. Yet, the blueprints themselves change nothing. We should rather act locally and accumulate tangible results.
In particular, one needs to have SMART goals and iteratively work on complicated situations:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Remember: complications are man-made redundancies that can be analyzed, refactored, and rewired, while complexities aren't. We are more capable than you think, if you know how to plan and act, and the world might not be as mystical as people think.
This article is part of the series: Altruistic Byte: Real-World Insights for Tech-Driven ChangeSupport
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See also
- May 1, 2026
- A Recipe for Sustainable Data Products
- April 1, 2026
- Toward Inclusive Education
- March 1, 2026
- Who is Digitally Prepared?
Author: Takuya Kitazawa
I am a product builder, mentor, and advocate for sustainable technology development with a decade of experience in AI/ML products, data systems, and digital transformation. Based in Canada and originally from Japan, I have lived and worked globally, including part-time residence in Malawi, Africa. Visit my portfolio to learn more about my work, or reach out to me at [email protected].
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