Computer Science | Grinnell College

Algorithms are essential to computer science, and increasingly they are essential to modern decision making on all levels. But are they unbiased? The emerging field of ‘Algorithm Accountability’ is beginning to identify cases in which inherent bias is imbedded in the inference structure of algorithms. The articles for this week’s CS Table run the gamut from popular press to general audience special interest to technical position papers to ACM recommendations for basic principles. The question is no longer ‘are algorithms biased’, but how to determine whether they are, and if so how to prevent them from being so.

Linda Oyolu, Ruth Wu, and Ursula Wolz will be leading our discussion on April 25, 2017. The following readings will give you a good sense of the area; please do your best to read at least some subset of these articles before our CS Table discussion:

• This NY Times overview is a good place to start: Make Algorithms Accountable (01-Aug-2016)
• An MIT Press summary of the emerging field: How to Hold Algorithms Accountable (17-Nov-2016)
• An ACM statement about principles for creating accountable algorithms: (PDF) Statement on Algorithmic Transparency and Accountability (12-Jan-2017)
• One of the seminal articles - a good place to get into the serious study: (PDF) Algorithmic Accountability, Journalistic investigation of computational power structures (07-Nov-2016)

Computer science table (CS Table) is a weekly meeting of Grinnell College community members (students, faculty, staff, etc.) interested in discussing topics related to computing and computer science. CS Table meets Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00pm in JRC 224B. Contact the CS faculty for the weekly reading. Students on meal plans, faculty, and staff are expected to cover the cost of their meals. Visitors to the College and students not on meal plans can charge their meals to the department.