Beth Mynatt, Dean of the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University, recently delivered a compelling keynote at the CCC Computing Futures Symposium that underscored the often-overlooked yet profound impact of federally funded computer science research. She began with thought-provoking “what if” scenarios, inviting us to imagine a world without key computational advancements rooted in decades of federal investments. What if the internet hadn’t emerged from US-backed research? If computational innovations hadn’t driven a significant reduction in cancer mortality, saving millions of lives and trillions in economic impact? Or if IT-driven innovations hadn’t revolutionized agriculture and today’s crop yields were 50 percent lower across the world? These hypotheticals […]

  A recent CCC Computing Futures Symposium panel, featuring luminaries in the field — Robin Murphy (Texas A&M University), Melanie Moses (University of New Mexico), Chad Jenkins (University of Michigan), and Holly Yanco (University of Massachusetts – Lowell) — offered a captivating glimpse into the evolving landscape of robotics and autonomy. Moderated by Weisong Shi (University of Delaware), the discussion highlighted pivotal advancements in sensing, computation, and intelligence, exploring their profound implications for society, research, and education. Charting the Present and Future of Robotics  The panelists began by painting a vivid picture of the current state and future potential of robotics. Murphy, a pioneer in rescue robots, challenged conventional notions […]

Artificial intelligence stands at a “great juncture,” a moment brimming with excitement and profound responsibility. This was the central theme of a recent insightful panel discussion where leading minds in AI — Yolanda Gil (University of Southern California), David Jensen (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Aarti Singh (AI Institute for Societal Decision Making), and Bart Selman (Cornell University) —explored its current trajectory and charted its future horizons. The panel was moderated by Bob Bond (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). The conversation moved beyond the hype, offering a grounded yet ambitious vision for where AI is headed and what it will take to get there responsibly.   Shifting the Focus of AI Development  […]

The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) National Coordination Office (NCO), on behalf of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), has issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input on the development of the 2025 National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Development (R&D) Strategic Plan. This is a crucial opportunity for the computing community to help shape the future of AI research in the United States.  The Computing Community Consortium (CCC) intends to submit a response to this RFI as a follow-up to our February response to the RFI on the Development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. We encourage members of the computing community […]

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to influence nearly every sector of society, institutions across academia, government, and industry are recognizing the need for dedicated leadership to guide the responsible development and application of these technologies. One emerging trend is the creation of Chief AI Officer roles, positions tasked with coordinating AI research, applications, and policy across complex organizations. At the University of Utah, Computing Community Consortium (CCC) Council member Manish Parashar was recently appointed as the University’s inaugural Chief AI Officer. In this role, he leads AI strategy and engagements and coordinates its execution across the university, including through the One-U Responsible AI Initiative (One-U RAI). That initiative aims to […]

  The Computing Community Consortium (CCC) is excited to announce the release of a new joint whitepaper with CRA-Industry, The Future of Programming in the Age of Large Language Models. A collaborative effort of leading experts in academia and industry Arjun Guha (Northeastern University) and Ben Zorn (Microsoft), this paper delves into the profound impact of large language models (LLMs) on the landscape of software development and computing education. In just a few short years, LLMs have evolved from research curiosities to powerful tools wielded by computing professionals, integrated into educational curricula, and driving new avenues of research. This rapid adoption has fundamentally shifted how we approach programming and how […]