Jason Hong – Communications of the ACM

BLOG@CACM Apr 13 2023

What Can the FATE Community Learn from the Successes and Failures in Privacy?

There are many similarities between FATE (Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, Ethics) and privacy, and I believe that there are a lot of lessons that the FATE community can learn from past work, successes, and failures in privacy.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Author Archives

BLOG@CACM Feb 17 2023

Using GitHub CoPilot is Like Having a Superpower

With the advent of Large Language Models (LLMs) and tools like GitHub CoPilot, I think we’re a step closer towards a world where software can be created by anyone. In fact, my colleague Brad Myers, who has investigated end-user programming for decades, believes that CoPilot is the biggest change to programming since Google search. I think this may be understating things. We’re going to see a wave of new kinds of software programming tools based on LLMs, and they will be transformative in how developers build and evaluate computer systems.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

May 1 2022

Modern Tech Can’t Shield Your Secret Identity

Jason Hong considers how modern computing technologies would undermine superheroes' anonymity.

Computing Profession

Feb 1 2022

The Trouble with Facebook

Jason Hong considers how computer scientists, technologists could help guide regulation of the social media giant.

Security and Privacy

BLOG@CACM Jan 24 2022

Superhero Secret Identities Aren’t Possible with Today’s Computing Technologies

In comic books, most superheroes have a secret identity, usually to protect their friends and family from retribution. However, today’s computer technology would make it impossible for a superhero to maintain their secret identity. We look at a wide range of surveillance and tracking technologies, which have major implications for privacy and civil rights today.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Research and Advances Dec 1 2021

Software-Defined Cooking Using a Microwave Oven

We present software-defined cooking (SDC), a low-cost closed-loop microwave oven system that aims to heat food in a software-defined thermal trajectory.

Computing Applications

arms removing cooked meal from microwave oven

BLOG@CACM Nov 12 2021

What Should be Done About Facebook?

The recent release of the Facebook papers by a whistleblower has confirmed that leaders at the company have long known about problems facilitated by their social media, including disinformation, misinformation, hate speech, depression, and more. There's been a lot of talk about regulators stepping in. What kinds of questions, insights, or advice might our community offer these regulators?

Computing Profession

Carnegie Mellon University Associate Professor Jason Hong

BLOG@CACM May 2 2019

Is the Trolley Problem Useful for Studying Autonomous Vehicles?

Does the trolley problem offer any useful insights for autonomous vehicles, in terms of design of or public policy around these systems? Here are several reasons why it is not useful, and what are some more useful values-based questions to ask.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

BLOG@CACM Mar 13 2019

Why is Privacy So Hard?

Why is privacy so hard? Why is it, after so much negative press about it, are we still being constantly tracked on the web and on our smartphones? Why is it, after so many years of bad incidents and high profile data breaches, has the problem of privacy not yet been solved? I sketch out 11 reasons why we are failing at privacy.

Computing Applications

Carnegie Mellon Associate Professor Jason Hong

BLOG@CACM Aug 1 2016

Inside the Great Wall

During a trip to China, Jason Hong watches for signs of new technologies.

Computing Profession

Shape the Future of Computing

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