João Fonseca, an integrated researcher at MagIC – Information Management Research Center, has been recognized with the Best Paper Award in the AI Track at the ACM Conference on Equity and Access in Algorithms, Mechanisms, and Optimization (EAAMO 2023). The award was presented in Boston, Massachusetts, during the conference held from October 30 to November 1, 2023, hosted by Boston University.
The paper, titled “Setting the Right Expectations: Algorithmic Recourse Over Time,” was co-authored by Andrew Bell, Carlo Abrate, Francesco Bonchi, and Julia Stoyanovich, and addresses a critical challenge in the deployment of algorithmic systems—ensuring that individuals who are subject to algorithmic decisions have access to meaningful and actionable recourse.
Focusing on the evolving nature of machine learning models, the authors investigate how temporal dynamics affect the feasibility and fairness of algorithmic recourse, that is, the ability of individuals to change their outcomes by altering certain input features. The research highlights that static assumptions about models and user behavior can lead to misleading expectations and potentially unjust systems. The work proposes new frameworks that incorporate model updates and user adaptation over time, thus offering a more robust and equitable foundation for recourse mechanisms.
EAAMO is a flagship ACM conference dedicated to advancing research at the intersection of computer science, economics, and social sciences, with a particular emphasis on promoting equity, access, and social impact in algorithmic design. The AI Track Paper Award is granted to work that stands out in methodological innovation, scientific relevance, and societal contribution.
This award not only affirms João Fonseca’s contribution to one of the most pressing topics in responsible AI but also reinforces the role of MagIC as leading institution in ethical and human-centered data science.
Check the publication here.