Communications of the ACM
The news archive provides access to past news stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
October 2023
From ACM News
Scientists Manipulate Quantum Fluids of Light, Bringing us Closer to Next-Generation Unconventional Computing
What sets this development apart is the ability to manipulate polariton condensates without relying on the commonly utilized excitation profiles of polaritons.
From ACM News
Doctors Wrestle With A.I. in Patient Care, Citing Lax Oversight
The F.D.A. has approved many new programs that use artificial intelligence, but doctors are skeptical that the tools really improve care or are backed by solid research.
From ACM TechNews
Closing the Inclusion Gap in Computer Science
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University students aim to address the lack of diversity in computer science.
From ACM News
Cybercrime Enablers
Initial Access Brokers sell unauthorized access.
From ACM News
Biden Issues AI Executive Order, Requiring Safety Assessments, Civil Rights Guidance, Research on Labor Market Impact
The order builds on voluntary commitments the White House previously secured from leading AI companies and represents the first major binding government action on the technology.
From ACM TechNews
Shape-Shifting Fiber Produces Morphing Fabrics
The FibeRobo programmable fiber can change shape in response to temperature changes.
From ACM TechNews
Underwater Robot Helps Scientists Clarify Antarctic Ice Melting
A team of scientists in the U.S. and New Zealand used the Icefin underwater robot to explore Antarctic ice crevasses to better understand their role in rising global sea levels.
From ACM TechNews
AI Muddies Israel-Hamas War in Unexpected Way
Disinformation researchers have found the use of artificial intelligence to spread falsehoods in the Israel-Hamas war is sowing doubt about the veracity of online content.
From ACM News
Rishi Sunak Lays Out Vision for New Global AI Safety Bodies
British PM defended seeking Chinese buy-in for a bevvy of new AI governance initiatives he is set to launch next week.
From ACM News
Google Search Boss Says Company Invests to Avoid Becoming 'Roadkill'
At the start of its antitrust defense, Google attributed its success to relentless investment, countering government claims that it broke the law to stay ahead.
From ACM TechNews
The App Store–But for Cars–May Not be Far Off
Automaker General Motors has released a suite of open source application programming interfaces so software developers can build apps that integrate with connected vehicle hardware.
From ACM TechNews
Native American Representation Lacking in U.S. Tech Roles
A report found that Native American students continue to be underrepresented in U.S. college computer science courses.
From ACM TechNews
2023 ACM-IEEE CS George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowship Recipients Named
ACM and IEEE named the recipients of the 2023 ACM-IEEE CS George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowships.
From ACM TechNews
Breakthrough in Collaborative Magnetic Microrobotics
Researchers at the Netherlands' University of Twente engineered two 1-millimeter-sized magnetic microrobots to pick up, move, and assemble cubes collaboratively.
From ACM TechNews
Apple AirTags Can Track Lost Suitcase, but Slow to Alert for Stalking
A study by Northeastern University researchers found that notifications to iPhone users of their close proximity to an unknown AirTag are not timely and can be bypassed.
From ACM TechNews
AI Tool Discovers Supernova
An international team of researchers created an artificial intelligence-based system able to discover and verify supernovas.
From ACM TechNews
NASA 3D-Printed a Rocket Nozzle for Deep Space
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration three-dimensionally-printed an aluminum rocket engine nozzle that could enable deep space exploration with more cargo.
From ACM News
How AI Is Helping Historians Better Understand Our Past
The historians of tomorrow are using computer science to analyze how people lived centuries ago.
From ACM News
AI 'Breakthrough': Neural Net Has Human-Like Ability to Generalize Language
A neural-network-based artificial intelligence outperforms ChatGPT at quickly folding new words into its lexicon, a key aspect of human intelligence.
From ACM News
How This Turing Award-Winning Researcher Became a Legendary Academic Advisor
Theoretical computer scientist Manuel Blum has guided generations of graduate students into fruitful careers in the field.
From ACM TechNews
AI Firms Must Be Held Responsible for Harm They Cause, 'Godfathers' Say
A group of experts said artificial intelligence companies must be held accountable for the damage their products cause.
From ACM TechNews
Smartphone Attachment Could Increase Racial Fairness in Neurological Screening
A new smartphone attachment could be used for low-cost neurological screenings, to ensure accurate results regardless of the user's skin tone.
From ACM TechNews
Students, Professors Decry Sensors in Buildings
Officials at the U.K.'s Queen Mary University of London announced earlier this year that sensors would be installed in campus buildings. Staff and students are concerned.
From ACM News
President Biden Honors Leading American Scientists, Technologists, and Innovators
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is the nation's highest award for technological achievement.
From ACM News
California DMV Suspends Cruise Deployment, Testing Permits
California's Department of Motor Vehicles says General Motors' Cruise vehicles are not "safe for the public's operations."
From ACM TechNews
N.Y. State Bill Would Require Background Checks to Buy 3D Printers
Proposed legislation would require subjecting consumers to criminal history background checks before permitting them to purchase certain three-dimensional printers.
From ACM TechNews
Better 'Map' of the Lights You See When You Close Your Eyes Can Improve 'Bionic Eye' Outcomes
A method of mapping phosphenes developed by researchers at Australia's Monash University could help patients receiving cortical visual protheses achieve better surgical outcomes.
From ACM News
Atom Computing First to Announce a 1,000+ Qubit Quantum Computer
A startup company has upped its qubit count by an order of magnitude in two years.
From ACM News
Department of Energy Accelerates Emerging Technologies
National laboratories will work to shorten the pipelines that lead to important tech developments.
From ACM News
Your Face May Soon Be Your Ticket. Not Everyone Is Smiling
Facial recognition software is speeding up check-in at airports, cruise ships and theme parks, but experts worry about risks to security and privacy.