A Survey of Algorithm Debt in Machine and Deep Learning Systems: Definition, Smells, and Future Work
inforesearchPeer-Reviewed
research
Source: ACM Digital Library (TOPS, DTRAP, CSUR)April 28, 2026
Summary
This survey paper examines algorithm debt in machine learning and deep learning systems, which refers to the long-term costs and problems that accumulate when developers use suboptimal algorithms or methods in AI projects. The paper defines what algorithm debt is, identifies warning signs called 'smells' that indicate its presence, and discusses future research directions. Understanding algorithm debt helps developers recognize when quick, temporary solutions in AI projects create technical problems that become harder and more expensive to fix later.
Classification
Attack SophisticationModerate
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Original source: https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3806391?af=R
First tracked: April 28, 2026 at 08:00 AM
Classified by LLM (prompt v3) · confidence: 85%