Talking Machines · Tote Bag Productions

Aspirational Asimov and How to Survive a Conference

·45 min·4 clips

Catherine Gorman reveals why NIPS might change its name due to racial slurs and anatomical references.

This episode of Talking Machines features hosts Catherine Gorman and Neil Lawrence discussing the potential name change for the NIPS machine learning conference. They explore the community debate surrounding the conference's acronym, which stands for Neural Information Processing Systems. The hosts examine why this issue has gained prominence and the formal process being undertaken. The conversation centers on the dual concerns that the term "NIPS" is a racial slur and also a colloquial term for nipples. Gorman notes the original NIPS.com website is not appropriate for a professional conference. She shares an anecdote about an administrator in Sheffield who would giggle whenever the conference was mentioned. Neil Lawrence confirms the executive board has formed a committee to examine a potential name change. A formal statement reveals the board will ask the entire community for input after the May submission deadline. The hosts describe this as a "booted" effort to gauge how deeply the community feels about the issue. A surprising insight is that the discomfort with the name exists within parts of the machine learning community itself. The discussion highlights how an internal administrative detail can become a significant community and diversity issue. The hosts treat the topic with a mix of seriousness and lighthearted commentary on the acronym's alternative meanings. They openly question whether a change is actually going to happen, reflecting the ongoing uncertainty. The episode reveals that the push for change is framed around encouraging greater diversity at the conference. The tone is conversational and informal, with the hosts sharing personal observations and reactions. The style is analytical, breaking down an internal community debate for a broader audience. Listeners interested in the social dynamics and politics of academic conferences would find this episode engaging. Those seeking technical machine learning content or definitive conclusions might prefer to skip it.

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