Computer History Museum

In partnership with Google, CHM is excited to announce the public release and long-term preservation of the source code for AlexNet, the neural network that kick-started today’s prevailing approach to AI. Created in 2012 to recognize the contents of photographic images, AlexNet was developed at the University of Toronto by then-graduate students Alex Krizhevsky and Ilya Sutskever and their faculty advisor Geoffrey Hinton. Google eventually acquired the company they started, and a Google team worked with CHM for five years to secure the release. Learn more about AlexNet: https://hubs.li/Q03cL9q-0 Or, go directly to CHM’s GitHub link to access the open-source code: https://hubs.li/Q03cL9T50 ?? Creators of AlexNet, from left to right, Ilya Sutskever, Alex Krizhevsky, and Geoffrey Hinton, 2017. Credit: University of Toronto.

Technology is undoubtedly reshaping the future of news. Join us on April 16 for a CHM live discussion with leading experts in media and technology. Hear from Jason Koebler (404 Media), Marian Liu (The Washington Post), and Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds (Black Voice News) as they share how innovation is driving the next era of journalism. ??? Secure your tickets now: https://bit.ly/43UpKFu

You may have heard about the recent Executive Order that threatens to dismantle the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency that provides critical funding to museums and libraries across the country. But what you might not realize is just how vital this support is—especially to institutions like CHM. Since 2008, CHM has received over half a million dollars in IMLS grants. This funding has enabled us to significantly expand our online collection, explore the use of machine learning to make that collection more accessible, and develop tools to measure and enhance the effectiveness of our programs, among other things. These grants don’t just help CHM—they help us serve our community better. IMLS accounts for just 0.0046% of the federal budget. Meanwhile, museums generate $50 billion in economic benefits and support more than 726,000 jobs. They also have strong bipartisan support—96% of Americans want federal funding for museums to remain the same or increase. If you believe in the power of museums to educate, inspire, and preserve history, we ask you to take action. Let your federal representatives know why IMLS matters. It only takes a minute—just use this form > https://bit.ly/429IaAV Thank you for standing with CHM and museums nationwide. Your voice makes a difference.

Looking for spring break plans? Join us on April 5 for CHM’s TechFest, an all-day, family-friendly event where science fiction meets real-world innovation. You’ll have a chance to get creative with sci-fi headband making, hands-on science experiments in the Curiosity Cube, an exciting scavenger hunt, and showing off your moves at the Robot Dance Party ?? ?? Date: April 5, 2025 ?? Location: Computer History Museum ??? Included with Museum General Admission Secure your tickets now: https://bit.ly/3R3dKd9

March’s Artifact of the Month: The Antikythera Mechanism The 2,000-year-old Antikythera mechanism is the oldest known scientific calculator. A complex arrangement of over 30 gears could determine with remarkable precision the position of the sun, moon and planets, predict eclipses and track the dates of Olympic Games. Divers exploring a Roman shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera in 1901 found the remains of a baffling device. Fifty years later scholars slowly began to unlock its ancient mystery. This remarkabledevice has revolutionized our understanding of the ancient Greeks’ abilities—both their scientific acumen and their craftsmanship. Visit CHM to learn more. ???

Can AI truly understand, or is it just incredibly good at mimicking human intelligence? Join us on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, for a thought-provoking debate at CHM in partnership with IEEE Spectrum. Tickets: https://lnkd.in/ebr5d-ae This program is made possible by the generous support of the The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.

It’s time! Tune in to our livestream as Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, takes the stage to explore the power of AI in education. Drawing from his upcoming book, “Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing),” Sal will share how AI is transforming the future of learning. ??https://bit.ly/43CiNJ6

From data journalism to AI, technology continues to reshape the future of news. Join us for a dynamic and timely public forum, featuring top newsmakers, experts, and changemakers.

In partnership with Silicon Valley Reads, Sal Khan’s “Brave New Words” program is made possible by the generous support of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. Join us on March 11, 2025 to explore the power of AI in education with the founder of Khan Academy. Join us online next week: https://bit.ly/3CwHbRy.

Do chatbots like ChatGPT really understand us when we talk to them? Join CHM, in partnership with IEEE Spectrum, for a fundamental debate on the nature of today’s artificial intelligence and the large language models (LLMs) that drive chatbot technology.?