Now Is the Time to Give LLMs Access to the ACM Digital Library
I argue that the ACM Digital Library should immediately grant Large Language Models access to its vast repository of computer science research. This move is essential to ensure AI systems are trained on accurate, high-quality technical data rather than noisy internet content. By enabling this access, we can foster more reliable AI tools that genuinely advance the field of computing.
The future of reliable AI depends on training models with the rigorous, peer-reviewed knowledge found in the ACM Digital Library.
- Cynddl
As a researcher with many articles in the ACM library, I have to say this is a masterclass in hypocrisy. Obviously, lawyers can decipher the terms of ACM publishing contracts and Creative Commons licences to determine if this will be acceptable or not. But ACM is not a company, it's a non-profit founded in 1947 to represent scientists.
I would be surprised if a majority of ACM members were to say yes should we ask them (but ACM is not known for such democracy). Along with book authors, we are one of the many people that provide the knowledge and expertise on which large tech firms train their models, and get nothing in return. Actually, life is getting worse for us: extra workload in universities with students' AI use, a completely broken peer review system, etc. Hence the irony of ACM thinking about licensing, and only licensing, at a time where this is the least of our priorities.
- fsmv
How about we give humans access
- juancn
They probably already scraped it.
- rurban
So give it for free to the open weight models, and charge the closed weight models. Easy
- spoaceman7777
Blocking access only hurts people who follow the rules. Unblocking access lets them compete with those who break the rules.
I think the right choice is pretty clear...
- davexunit
No it's not.
- etdznots
Most ACM text is already part of the pre training corpus for all frontier LLMs
- estebarb
I'm really not sure how this would work. I don't know how the ACM works, but in IEEE you would have to give them your publishing rights. However, training a LLM is not publishing by itself, it is a derivative work? Any way, at this point authors should be entitled to monetary compensation, not the publisher. The deal is totally different.