Communications of the ACM
The opinion archive provides access to past opinion stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
November 2019
From ACM Opinion
AIs Should Have The Same Ethical Protections As Animals
We will soon have AI as cognitively sophisticated as mice or dogs, so it is time to start thinking about whether these AIs deserve the ethical protections we typically give to animals.
From ACM Opinion
The Architect of Modern Algorithms
Barbara Liskov pioneered the modern approach to writing code. She warns that the challenges facing computer science today can't be overcome with good design alone.
From ACM Opinion
I Invented the World Wide Web. Here’s How We Can Fix It.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee wanted the Web to serve humanity. He says it's not too late to live up to that promise.
From ACM Opinion
Dan Jacobson On ORNL's Algorithms for Climate-Resilient Crops
Dan Jacobson of Oak Ridge National Laboratory has a few ideas on how artificial intelligence might impact agriculture, the food industry, and the field of bioengineering.
From ACM Opinion
Removing the Risk of AI Bias in the Public Sector
What practical steps can be taken to drive ethical, unbiased AI use in the public sector?
From ACM Opinion
Why Cybersecurity Should Be India's Foremost Priority
Attacks on embedded systems and IoT have increased in India.
From ACM Opinion
How to Improve Technical Expertise for Judges In AI-Related Litigation
There are several things court systems and professional organizations should do to enhance the technical capabilities of judges.
From ACM Opinion
Trolling Is Now Mainstream Political Discourse
We are heading down the dystopian path. Trolling has become a mainstream form, if not the mainstream form of political discourse.
From ACM Opinion
Is the Computer Science Degree Dead?
Recent trends point to a decline in traditional education due to changing views and alternative education opportunities.
From ACM Opinion
Computing Ethics Are a Board Concern
Five recommendations for directors by Marty J. Wolf on where to start.
From ACM Opinion
Should Computer Science Be Required?
At far too many institutions today, students who are not computer science majors encounter severe enrollment caps and watered-down or limited courses, writes Robert Sedgewick.
From ACM Opinion
We Shouldn't be Scared by 'Superintelligent A.I.'
Bostrom, Russell, and other writers argue that even if the probability is small that superintelligent machines will emerge in the foreseeable future, we should start preparing for it now.
From Communications of the ACM
Europe's Controversial Digital Copyright Directive Finalized
Considering the new liability risks for ISPs, search engines, and news aggregators under recent EU-wide mandatory rules.
From Communications of the ACM
Computational Thinking Should Just be Good Thinking
Seeking to change computing teaching to improve computer science.
From Communications of the ACM
An Interview with Leonard Kleinrock
The UCLA professor and networking pioneer reflects on his career in industry and academia.
From Communications of the ACM
Algorithms, Platforms, and Ethnic Bias
How computing platforms and algorithms can potentially either reinforce or identify and address ethnic biases.