Going into this class, I was excited to learn more about artificial intelligence and how modern technology works behind the scenes. Before taking this course, I mostly thought about the digital world in terms of smartphones, social media, and AI tools, but I quickly realized the digital revolution started long before any of those existed. One of the most interesting things I learned was how early inventions like the telegraph and telephone completely changed communication by allowing information to travel faster than ever before. Learning about Morse code, analog versus digital systems, and how signals are transmitted helped me understand how modern technology evolved step by step over time. I also found it interesting how digital systems can reduce noise and make communication clearer, while still having limitations and tradeoffs. Discussions about digital images, sound, and communication showed me that technology is not perfect, and something can still lose detail or meaning when converted into a digital form.

The part of the course that interested me the most was learning about artificial intelligence and how it compares to the human brain. I learned that artificial neural networks are inspired by biological neurons, but they function very differently from how the human brain works. It surprised me that the human brain is incredibly energy efficient compared to large computer systems and AI models. The Turing Test and discussions about whether machines can truly be “intelligent” also made me think more critically about AI and its future role in society. Overall, this class changed the way I look at the technology around me and helped me realize how connected everything in the digital world really is, from early telegraphs to smartphones and modern AI systems. As a student studying marine biology, I also began thinking about how digital technology and AI are becoming increasingly important in scientific research through things like satellite tracking, sensors, and data analysis. This course gave me a much better understanding of both the history of the digital revolution and the ways it continues to shape everyday life and future innovation.