Paving the Way for the Technology of Today

The first thing I see when I wake up in the morning is my phone: my alarm clock. The last thing I check before bed is also my phone: text messages. Throughout the day, a constant stream of emails hit my inbox. News articles about the effects of generative artificial intelligence persistently make headlines as pop-up notifications.

I remember when ChatGPT first launched and became the new “big thing”. Some time before that, I recall writing my first line of code (Introduction to Java in a large lecture hall, with the ever-so-familiar “Hello World”). Many years before that, I remember when I did not own any personal electronic devices at all, and my parents only had flip phones.

Looking back at these moments is rather nostalgic, as I realize how quickly the times have changed. It also makes me pause and think about the process of innovation: I am reminded to be grateful for the people who have guided us to the technological advancements of today. I love learning different programming languages, the way that algorithms work, and the growth of generative AI startups. The more I learn, the more interested I am in also learning about the background of early technologists: especially women, who have been a historically underrepresented group.

Photo of Gwendolyn Seto

To celebrate International Women’s Day, I’m excited to think about the women who are trailblazers in their field as researchers, explorers, creatives, and leaders. Especially as a recent graduate from engineering school, I am interested in learning about women who have shaped the technology sphere. One such inspiring woman is Grace Hopper, a computer scientist renowned for her contributions in computer programming. She served in the U.S. Navy, where she worked on Mark I, the first electromechanical computer in the United States. Beyond this, she also created the first compiler and helped develop COBOL (“Common Business-Oriented Language”). COBOL is an English word-based programming language which was easier to understand compared to the symbol-based languages that preceded it. It was created with Hopper’s mission of broad adoption across many different industries, and it eventually became one of the most common programming languages in the world. COBOL was created with the idea of making more people comfortable with computers, especially those who did not come from a highly technical background. Overall, this paved the way for computer languages to become more user-friendly and accessible, which influences the way that we program today.

What I have learned most from the story of Grace Hopper is one of curiosity and innovation. Hopper had a vision for improving computer programming accessibility, and with that goal in mind, she tinkered with ideas to build a new programming language. Similarly, I am interested in researching, discovering unanswered questions and ideas, and ultimately finding a path that works on executing those goals. As machine learning models increase in accuracy and artificial intelligence becomes exponentially intertwined with our daily lives, I’m reminded of how far we have come in regards to the development of technology and computer science. I’m grateful for the women like Grace Hopper who have shaped history, and looking ahead, I am excited to see what the future holds.

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Article written by: Gwendolyn Seto, Millennium Fellow of class of 2024 from Columbia University