acm fellow
Large Language Models, Knowledge Graphs and Search Engines: A Crossroads for Answering Users' Questions
Hogan, Aidan, Dong, Xin Luna, Vrandečić, Denny, Weikum, Gerhard
Much has been discussed about how Large Language Models, Knowledge Graphs and Search Engines can be combined in a synergistic manner. A dimension largely absent from current academic discourse is the user perspective. In particular, there remain many open questions regarding how best to address the diverse information needs of users, incorporating varying facets and levels of difficulty. This paper introduces a taxonomy of user information needs, which guides us to study the pros, cons and possible synergies of Large Language Models, Knowledge Graphs and Search Engines. From this study, we derive a roadmap for future research.
In Memoriam
Generations of computing professionals may remember Frederick P. Brooks, Jr., as the author of the seminal text on system engineering, The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineeringa and his essays such as No Silver Bullet--Essence and Accident in Software Engineering.b Those who worked with Brooks, winner of the 1999 ACM A.M. Turing Award "for landmark contributions to computer architecture, operating systems, and software engineering," may also remember him as the lead designer of IBM's System/360, as an innovator in graphics and virtual reality, and as the founder of the University of North Carolina's computer science department. Brooks was born on April 19, 1931, in Greenville, North Carolina. He received his A.B. in Physics from Duke University in 1953. As a freshman, he saw an article in the January 23, 1950 issue of Time Magazine entitled "The Thinking Machine" that sparked his interest in computing.
Gupta, Mason Named 2021 ACM Fellows
The Association for Computing Machinery has named Anupam Gupta and Matthew T. Mason 2021 ACM fellows. The ACM recognized Gupta, a professor in the Computer Science Department, for his contributions to approximation algorithms, online algorithms, stochastic algorithms and metric embeddings. Mason, a professor emeritus in the Robotics Institute, was honored for his contributions to robotic manipulation and manipulation path planning. Gupta and Mason were among 70 fellows recognized in 2021. "Computing professionals have brought about leapfrog advances in how we live, work and play," said ACM President Gabriele Kotsis. "New technologies are the result of skillfully combining the individual contributions of numerous men and women, often building upon diverse contributions that have emerged over decades.
Jack Minker (1927–2021)
ACM fellow Jack Minker passed away on April 9, 2021, at the age of 93. Minker was a leader in the development of automating logistic reasoning, including deductive databases, logic programming, and artificial intelligence, but he is perhaps best known for his efforts to promote the social responsibility of scientists and human rights. In 1972, Minker was invited to join the newly constituted Committee of Concerned Scientists. He was asked to help identify Soviet computer scientists whose human rights were under attack by their government, frequently because of their career choices or because they had requested permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union. "It was something I could not refuse to do," said Jack in 2011.
Fran Allen
Frances E. Allen, an American computer scientist, ACM Fellow, and the first female recipient of the ACM A.M. Turing Award (2006), passed away on Aug. 4, 2020--her 88th birthday--from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Allen was raised on a dairy farm in Peru, NY, without running water or electricity. She received a BS degree in mathematics from the New York State College for Teachers (now the State University of New York at Albany). Inspired by a beloved math teacher, and by the example of her mother, who had also been a grade-school teacher, Allen started teaching high school math. She needed a master's degree to be certified, so she enrolled in a mathematics master's program at the University of Michigan.
ACM Awards Honor CS Contributions
In this issue of Communications, as evidenced by the cover and lead article, we celebrate the latest recipients of the ACM A.M. Turing Award. Yoshua Bengio, Yann LeCun, and Geoffrey Hinton carried out pioneering work in deep learning that has touched all our lives. As Turing Laureates, they now join the eminent group of technology visionaries recognized with the world's highest distinction in computing. The Turing Award is one of a suite of professional honors ACM bestows annually to recognize technical achievements that have made significant contributions to our field. This month, I will have the pleasure of joining the awardees, ACM Fellows, and other luminaries in San Francisco for the ACM Awards Banquet.
ACM Recognizes New Fellows
ACM has recognized 53 of its members as ACM Fellows for major contributions in areas including artificial intelligence, cryptography, computer architecture, high performance computing and programming languages. The achievements of the 2016 ACM Fellows are accelerating the digital revolution, and affect almost every aspect of how we live and work today. "As nearly 100,000 computing professionals are members of our association, to be selected to join the top one percent is truly an honor," explains ACM President Vicki L. Hanson. "Fellows are chosen by their peers and hail from leading universities, corporations and research labs throughout the world. Their inspiration, insights and dedication bring immeasurable benefits that improve lives and help drive the global economy."
Five CSAIL researchers named ACM fellows
Today the Association for Computer Machinery (ACM) announced its 2014 fellows, and among the awardees were five researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) -- more than any other academic institution in the world. Srini Devadas, Eric Grimson, Robert Morris, Ronitt Rubinfeld, and CSAIL Director Daniela Rus were among the 1 percent of ACM members to receive the distinction, according to the association's press release. The ACM fellows, chosen from universities, corporations, and research labs, were selected for contributions that have provided key knowledge to the computing field and generated multiple technology advances in industry, commerce, healthcare, entertainment, and education. "While it certainly isn't unprecedented for CSAIL researchers to receive this honor, it is quite remarkable that this year ACM has chosen to recognize five members of our community," said Daniel Jackson, associate director of CSAIL. "We are extremely proud of our PIs who have been selected to be part of such esteemed company."