Over-the-air computation (AirComp) leverages the signal superposition characteristic of wireless multiple-access channels (MACs) to perform mathematical computations. Initially introduced to enhance communication reliability in interference channels and wireless sensor networks (WSNs), AirComp has more recently found applications in task-oriented communications like wireless distributed learning and in wireless control systems.

In his January 2012 column for IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, K. J. Ray Liu, then president of the IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS), highlighted the importance of establishing a formal community when individuals come together to create a professional society [1]. He emphasized that the Society’s primary mission, its raison d’être, is to serve its community, and the key to achieving this mission is to serve its members effectively.

As we enter the new year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on our achievements from the past year and celebrate our successes. I am naming this “President’s Message” column the “State of the Society,” which will serve as a platform to share updates about our Society, including our activities, successes, and challenges.