ENIAC's architects wove stories through computing

This year marks the 80th anniversary of ENIAC, the first general-purpose digital computer, highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of its architects, John W. Mauchly and Kathleen “Kay” McNulty. Mauchly, a meteorology enthusiast, envisioned using ENIAC for weather prediction, while McNulty, one of the original programmers, saw parallels between programming and weaving, developing crucial concepts like subroutines. Their story, shared by their granddaughter, reveals how ENIAC was more than a calculator; it was a narrative engine whose capabilities emerged through use and imagination. The article draws parallels between ENIAC and modern AI systems, suggesting that their true potential will also be defined by how humans learn to interact with them.