Communications of the ACM
The news archive provides access to past news stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
May 2023
From ACM TechNews
Snake-Like EELS Slithers into Robotics Terrain
A self-propelled snake-like robot developed by researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory can map and navigate previously inaccessible terrain autonomously.
From ACM TechNews
Training Machines to Learn More Like Humans Do
Scientists found computer vision models can be trained to produce more stable, predictable visual representations, similar to those humans learn through perceptual straightening.
From ACM TechNews
Lithography-Free Photonic Chip Offers Speed, Accuracy for AI
Researchers have constructed a lithography-free photonic chip that offers programmable on-chip information processing.
From ACM News
'Rip and Replace': The Tech Cold War Is Upending Wireless Carriers
As China and the U.S. jockey for tech primacy, wireless carriers in dozens of states are tearing out Chinese equipment. That has turned into a costly, difficult process.
From ACM News
Spyware Lurks in Android Smartphones
Google's decision to allow its operating system to install third-party apps makes Android smartphones targets for spyware.
From ACM TechNews
China's Search Engines Have More Than 66,000 Content Rules
Analysts found China's search engines have more than 66,000 rules governing content, suggesting the growing pervasiveness and subtlety of the country's censorship apparatus.
From ACM TechNews
Babies Conceived with Sperm-Injecting Robot Have Been Born
Scientists claim the first two babies conceived by a sperm-injecting robot have been born.
From ACM TechNews
Synthetic Data Could Be Better Than Real Data
Some researchers envision synthetic data as not only offering content that is close enough to actual data to preserve privacy, but also enabling production of better data.
From ACM News
RIP Metaverse
An obituary for the latest fad to join the tech graveyard.
From ACM News
The Most Important Machine That Was Never Built
When he invented Turing machines in 1936, Alan Turing also invented modern computing.
From ACM TechNews
Japan Firms Turn to VR for Customer Service Training
Increasingly, Japanese companies are using virtual reality technology to train customer service staff.
From ACM TechNews
Tech Increases Equity in Diabetes Care for Kids
The 4T Program found technology can democratize diabetes care for children.
From ACM TechNews
Algorithm Makes Satellite Signals Act Like GPS
A new algorithm can listen in on satellite signals and use them to locate any point on Earth.
From ACM News
The Next Fear on A.I.: Hollywood's Killer Robots Become the Military's Tools
U.S. national security officials are warning about the potential for the new technology to upend war, cyber conflict and — in the most extreme case — the use of nuclear weapons.
From ACM News
AI Might Enable Us to Talk to Animals Soon. Here's How
As large language models become experts at human speech, they're now shifting their focus to animal communication.
From ACM TechNews
English Major? History Student? USC Wants to Teach You About Computer Science, Too
University of Southern California officials said the forthcoming School of Advanced Computing will extend computer science instruction to students in all disciplines.
From ACM TechNews
Deere Seeks Satellite Network to Connect Far-Flung Farms
Farm-equipment company Deere aims to network farms in remote regions of Brazil and the U.S. via satellites.
From ACM TechNews
The Future of Data Storage Lies in DNA Microcapsules
An international team of researchers has added scalability to synthetic DNA data storage via a new polymerase chain reaction technique.
From ACM News
How does Quantum Computing Impact the Finance Industry?
Quantum computers are only in the developmental stage; experiments are already showing their great potential in the finance industry.
From ACM News
Embracing AI In Education
Technology leaders, non-profit and educational organizations are teaming up to form TeachAI.
From ACM News
'Let a Thousand AIs Bloom'
Data science and philosophy professsor David Danks on the lack of diversity in artificial intelligence research.
From ACM TechNews
Researchers 3D-Print Miniature Vacuum Pump
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers three-dimensionally (3D)-printed a miniature peristaltic pump, in a step toward producing inexpensive mobile mass spectrometers.
From ACM TechNews
China's Metaverse Is All About Work
China's government aims to build a metaverse that supports the economy, while its Western counterparts are focused on consumers.
From ACM TechNews
Ostrich-Inspired Robot Gives Its Neck a Stretch
Researchers at Japan's University of Tokyo have developed a robotic manipulator based on the muscles and tendons in an ostrich's neck.
From ACM TechNews
Researchers Develop Tool for Optimizing Irrigation
A new irrigation optimization tool can estimate water loss from soil caused by evapotranspiration 100 times faster than state-of-the-art methods, while preserving accuracy.
From ACM News
GPT-4 Can't Replace Striking TV Writers, But Studios Are Going to Try
The desire to replace writers with AI is a symptom of the larger problem that the guild is fighting for—which is that companies do not value writers and their work.
From ACM News
FTC Proposes Blanket Prohibition Preventing Facebook from Monetizing Youth Data
FTC says the company violated 2020 privacy order; proposes new protections for children and teens.
From ACM News
My Weekend With an Emotional Support A.I. Companion
Pi, an A.I. tool that debuted this week, is a twist on the new wave of chatbots: It assists people with their wellness and emotions.
From ACM News
'AI is Taking Your Favorite Radio by Storm': Swiss Station Replaces DJs, Musicians with AI for a Day
A Swiss radio station, which falls under the umbrella of public broadcaster Radio Television Switzerland, notes the concerns about AI — and embraces and seeks to de-mystify it.
From ACM News
Creating More Opportunities for Women in Technology Sector and STEM Education in India
According to an AISHE survey, only 11% of engineering graduates in India are women. The percentage of women studying computer science in Indian universities has remained around 15% for the past decade.