In another installment of CCC’s Weekly Computing News, we are highlighting a fascinating article by the University of Michigan News. This article explores how artificial intelligence is being used to develop tools that can understand what a dog’s bark means. Using AI to decode dog vocalizations Researchers at the University of Michigan, in collaboration with Mexico’s National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE), achieved a breakthrough in animal communication research by repurposing AI models originally trained for human speech analysis to understand dog barks. Led by CCC Council Member Rada Mihalcea, the team adapted the Wav2Vec2 machine-learning model to interpret a dataset of dog vocalizations collected by the INAOE.  […]

The Computing Community Consortium (CCC) council member Pamela Wisniewski was featured in the Center for Democracy & Technology Research for an important study on online risk experiences of youth and the interventions needed to protect them from harm. The study highlights the necessity of a nuanced approach to youth online safety, emphasizing that not all young people face the same level of risk. Instead of implementing broad measures, tailored interventions should address the specific needs of different youth subgroups.  Using the survey responses from their study, Wisniewski and her colleagues identified five risk profiles with a unique set of online and offline risks, some including low risk, increased self harm […]

In the rapidly evolving landscape of computing, grand challenges emerge as pivotal milestones that shape the trajectory of technological advancement and societal progress. These challenges show the most complex and pressing issues that the computing community faces, spanning diverse domains from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to quantum computing.  What makes a grand challenge successful? Here are three examples throughout history. Human Genome Project (HGP) The Human Genome Project (HGP) was a landmark international endeavor that aimed to map, sequence, and understand the entirety of the human genome, our genetic blueprint. It spanned over a decade and involved thousands of scientists from across the globe. Its primary goals included mapping the […]

This week we discovered an interesting article from ACM Queue, a bimonthly magazine of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). This article, written by researchers Jinnan Guo, Peter Pietzuch, Andrew Paverd, and Kapil Vaswanin, explores how as the demand for trustworthy AI systems grows, the confluence of Federated Learning (FL) and Confidential Computing emerges as a promising solution.  Trustworthy AI Using Confidential Federated Learning The article emphasizes the crucial need to ensure the trustworthiness of AI systems, particularly in safeguarding personal information. It highlights two key methodologies, Federated Learning (FL) and Confidential Computing, as effective approaches to achieving this goal. While FL addresses privacy concerns by enabling collaborative model training […]

Computer science has emerged as a transformative force shaping virtually every aspect of modern society, profoundly impacting how we approach and tackle societal challenges.  As we navigate the intricate interaction between technology and society, computer science stands as a pivotal force in shaping a more sustainable and equitable future. Here are three current societal challenges where computational systems fit: Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection Modern networked systems use machine learning algorithms to detect anomalies, identify potential cyber threats, and respond to security incidents in real-time. Cryptography further ensures secure communication channels, protects sensitive data through encryption, and safeguards privacy in digital transactions.  Education Reform  Computational systems deliver personalized learning experiences tailored […]

Welcome to the first addition of CCC’s Weekly Computing News series. This week we are analyzing two recent reports which cover current trends in Artificial Intelligence research and public perceptions on how generative AI will impact the upcoming election.  AI and Elections The Elon University Poll, working with the Imagining the Digital Future Center, recently conducted a nationwide survey on Americans’ worries about potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The results reveal widespread concerns, with a striking 78% of adults fearing AI could be exploited to influence the election. People are particularly worried about AI manipulating social media, spreading fake content like videos and […]