Brown CS News

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)’s US Technology Policy Committee (USTPC) serves as the focal point for ACM's interaction with all branches of the US government, the computing community, and the public on policy matters related to information technology. Non-partisan and non-political, it regularly educates and informs Congress, the Administration, and the courts about significant developments in the computing field and how those developments affect public policy in the United States. 

The USTPC’s work is primarily conducted through standing Subcommittees, and Brown CS faculty members Serena Booth and Suresh Venkatasubramanian have just been appointed to co-chair the AI and Algorithms Subcommittee, whose recent work includes responses to government RFIs, techbriefs, and statements on chatbot use.

"I’m honored and excited to help lead ACM’s policy work on AI," says Suresh. "As AI and algorithms make deeper and deeper inroads into all aspects of our lives, it is crucial that the ACM, as the preeminent professional association of researchers and practitioners in computer science, continues to contribute to our understanding of current trends in technology and the implications for people, communities, and society."

Serena’s research explores human-robot interaction, trustworthy AI, and mechanisms to ensure that AI systems and robots align with human values. Her recent work focuses on assisting people in designing specifications for AI systems to prevent the common problems of misspecification, overspecification, and underspecification. She’s also worked on AI policy issues addressing the use of AI systems in high-stakes applications such as housing and banking. 

Recently, she was named a Canadian Institute For Advanced Research (CIFAR) Azrieli Global Scholar, led a first-of-its-kind AI Policy Summer School to teach the nation’s top students to conduct CS policy work, and received a Reinforcement Learning Conference Outstanding Paper Award.

Suresh directs the Center for Technological Responsibility, Reimagination, and Redesign (CNTR) within the Data Science Institute at Brown, and is a Professor of Computer Science and Data Science. His background is as a computer scientist and his current research interests lie in algorithmic fairness, and more generally the impact of automated decision-making systems in society. Prior to his arrival at Brown, he served as Assistant Director for Science and Justice in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and co-authored the Blueprint for an AI BIll of Rights. Most recently, he co-founded Brown’s AI Research Institute on Interaction for AI Assistants (ARIA), a national institute to develop intuitive, trustworthy AI assistants and co-starred with Michael Littman, Brown’s Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence, in the AI: It's Not As Bad As You Think! (But it's Pretty Bad) video series, which offers expert analysis of our biggest fears about artificial intelligence.

"I’m delighted to contribute to technology policy through this forum," says Serena. "ACM has long served as a convener of diverse people and institutions, and that diversity is essential for developing thoughtful, durable AI policy. I’m especially proud to represent Brown, which is increasingly a leader in bridging technical research with the requisite policy work."

For more information, click the link that follows to contact Brown CS Communications Manager Jesse C. Polhemus.