algorithms Archives

Is there such a thing as a safe algorithm? Talk of Facebook regulation gathers momentum.

One potential solution to Facebook’s lack of transparency is to create a new federal agency charged with regulating the social media companies. But that raises questions about how the political process, and the parties’ different ideas about privacy and free speech, would come to bear on such an effort, say several Northeastern experts.

by Tanner Stening October 13, 2021

Photo illustration by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Humans are trying to take bias out of facial recognition programs. It’s not working–yet.

Researchers are working to program facial-recognition algorithms with datasets that represent all racial and ethnic groups fairly. But that process may actually be perpetuating biases, according to new research by Zaid Khan, a PhD student in computer engineering at Northeastern University, and his advisor, electrical and computer engineering professor Raymond Fu.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki - contributor February 22, 2021

Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern, and Patricia J. Williams,
University Distinguished Professor of law and humanities, and students have a conversation on civil rights in the age of artificial intelligence during A Tribute to the Dream: A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

‘Dr. King’s message is universal’

In celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Patricia Williams, University Distinguished Professor of law and humanities, and Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern, led a discussion of the problem of civil rights in the age of artificial intelligence.

by Ian Thomsen January 16, 2020

As dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Uta Poiger has brought together different points of view representing different disciplines to help students respond to evolving societal issues, such as privacy and ethics in the social media age. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

‘It’s been exciting to see how students lead the way’

Northeastern is leading the way in the type of learning and knowledge that separates humans from machines. Uta Poiger, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, sat down with News@Northeastern to discuss her vision for integrating the liberal arts and new digital proficiencies.

by Ian Thomsen May 7, 2019

He’s investigating the algorithms that make Uber, Facebook, YouTube, and Amazon work

Christo Wilson, an associate professor in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences, has received a Sloan Research Fellowship, which recognizes scholars who are early in their careers and among the most promising researchers in their fields.

by Greg St. Martin February 19, 2019

Rifat Sipahi, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, designs algorithms that enable groups of robots to make good decisions despite inherent communication delays in information sharing. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Professor designs algorithms to make robots better collaborators

Rifat Sipahi designs algorithms to take AI to the next level. Here he explains some of the projects he’s working on, including an algorithm that could help reduce traffic jams among self-driving cars and human drivers.

by Jason Kornwitz January 17, 2018

Researchers find racial, gender bias in online freelance marketplaces

In the “gig economy,” where algorithms drive matches between workers and customers, hiring someone should be bias free, right? Not so, according to new research led by Northeastern’s Christo Wilson. The findings suggest racial and gender biases exhibited by two prominent online freelance marketplaces, TaskRabbit and Fiverr.

by Thea Singer December 6, 2016

Northeastern researchers find that Amazon might not always be pitching you the best prices

A team led by Northeastern’s Christo Wilson shows that Amazon is much more likely to point buyers to sellers who use an automated practice called algorithmic pricing, even though those sellers’ prices may be higher than others’.

by Thea Singer June 2, 2016

A closer look at understanding human vision

Ennio Mingolla, new chair of the Department of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, explores the way our brains process visual stimulation for the purpose of developing “sighted” robots and other applications.

by Angela Herring September 7, 2012

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