Wired
Massachusetts Institute of Technology theoretical computer scientist Ryan Williams recently posted proof of his theory that a small amount of memory is as helpful as a lot of time in all computations. Williams’ proof established a mathematical procedure for transforming any algorithm into a form that uses much less space. Williams' finding has won adulation from the computer science community, including ACM A. M. Turing Award laureate Avi Wigderson, who sent Williams a congratulatory email with the subject line: “You blew my mind."
From "For Algorithms, Memory Is a Far More Powerful Resource Than Time"
Wired (07/13/25) Ben Brubaker
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ComputerWeekly.com
The recently-concluded Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) saw ACM host its first Smart Technology, Fair Finance webinar, exploring the benefits and risks of AI in global development finance. Said ACM President Yannis Ioannidis, “Our central message is that technological advancement does not guarantee fair use,” he said. “AI often inspires either fear or unrealistic optimism. In truth, it can do immense good – but only if we ensure it serves everyone, not just the privileged."
From "ACM President Ioannidis Sees More Humane Role for AI"
ComputerWeekly.com (07/11/25) Pat Brans
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Scientific American
Japan’s new earthquake-detection network, designed to provide early warnings of tsunamis, is comprised of some 3,540 miles of fiber-optic cable zigzagging across 116,000 square miles of ocean that connect 150 observatories on the ocean floor. Each observatory contains 14 sensing channels, including seismometers and accelerometers, as well as pressure gauges to measure waves passing overhead. A tsunami-detection program at Cardiff University in Wales uses machine-learning algorithms to interpret hydrophone signals from ocean stations originally created to listen for clandestine nuclear bomb blasts.
From "Japan Wires the Ocean with an Earthquake-Sensing ‘Nervous System’"
Scientific American (07/09/25) Deni Ellis Béchard
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Reuters
A study by nonprofit METRon on a group of experienced software developers using AI coding assistant Cursor on open-source projects found that the tool actually slowed the developers down when they were working in codebases familiar to them. Before the study, the developers believed using AI would decrease task completion time by about a quarter. The study found, however, that using the AI tool actually increased task completion time by 19%.
From "AI Slows Some Experienced Software Developers"
Reuters (07/10/25) Anna Tong
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The New York Times
Bodyguards for Sweden’s royal family and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson uploaded their workout routes to fitness app Strava, an investigation by a Swedish newspaper found, allowing users to map and share their movements. Daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported that it tracked more than 1,400 workouts by seven of those bodyguards over the last year, revealing the address of the prime minister’s private residence, the locations of Sweden’s royal family, and the leader of Sweden’s opposition, along with other sensitive information.
From "Bodyguards Using Fitness App Revealed Locations of Swedish Leaders"
The New York Times (07/12/25) Lynsey Chutel
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ComputerWeekly.com
A partnership between researchers in the U.K. and France aims to make tech tools and systems used by critical national infrastructure suppliers, including positioning, navigation, and time systems, more resilient against security threats. Additionally, the countries announced a supercomputing partnership between the University of Bristol's Centre for Supercomputing and Grand équipement national de calcul intensif.
From "U.K., France Forge Closer Cyber, Tech Research Ties"
ComputerWeekly.com (07/10/25) Alex Scroxton
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