Episode notes
Today, autonomous vehicles are no longer a futuristic dream. But in 2019, industry leaders and researchers were still figuring how they work, the challenge of teaching AI to make life-and-death decisions, and the profound changes this technology could bring to our lives. This special panel from our archives featured Dmitri Dolgov from Waymo, Chris Gerdes from Stanford University, Jesse Levinson from Zoox, and Jack Weast of Mobileye. It was moderated by Talithia Williams of Harvey Mudd College and cohost of the PBS series NOVA Wonders. The program was recorded on October 18, 2019, at the…
Podcast
Decoding Tech
Computer History Museum · Tech & Science · English
Decoding Tech (from the Computer History Museum) explores the past, present and future of technology through conversations with today's leading experts as well as the pioneers and innovators of our on-going computing revolution. Programs are recorded live as a part of the museum's CHM Live events.
More from Decoding Tech All episodes →
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E32 · 25 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 36 min
Apple at 50: Five Decades of Thinking Different
On April 1, 1976, Apple Computer was founded with a radical idea: that powerful computing should be personal. Fifty years later, Apple stands as one of the most influential tech companies in history. To celebrate this anniversary, David Pogue , legendary journalist and author of the new book Apple: The First 50 Years , hosted an event featuring: Chris Espinosa, Senior Apple Employee John Sculley, former Apple CEO Avie Tevanian, former Chief Software Technology Officer and SVP of Software Engineering Plus, recorded segments from Apple luminaries like Steve Wozniak as well as live audience…
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E31 · 12 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Computing For the Whole World
The iPod and the iPhone transformed entertainment, communications, and computing in less than a decade. Tony Fadell joins John Markoff on stage to explore his time designing these amazing products as well as his founding of Nest. This conversation was recorded on May 10, 2017, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. To watch a video of this program, please visit the Computer History Museum's YouTube channel. To learn more about the Computer History Museum and our upcoming CHM Live events, visit our website at www.computerhistory.org
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E30 · 25 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
The Pixel: From Cave Paintings to Toy Story
The tiny pixel is the “big idea” that ties all digital imaging together. In this episode, computing‑graphics pioneer and Pixar cofounder Alvy Ray Smith shares insights from his book A Biography of the Pixel , on how this humble building block reshaped art, entertainment, and our digital world. Barbara Robertson , former Senior Editor of Computer Graphics World, moderated the conversation. This CHM Live event was recorded on August 11, 2022, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. To watch a video of this program, please visit the Computer History Museum's YouTube…
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E29 · 11 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Algorithms of Love: Dating in the Digital World
What happens when the quest for love gets outsourced to computers? Just in time for Valentine's Day, we're exploring how technology has changed the ways we live and love today and what changes might be coming tomorrow. Featuring: Jeffrey Tarr , Cofounder, Operation Match Gary Kremen , Entrepreneur & Founder of Match.com Steve Dean , Online Dating Consultant at Dateworking Moderator: Hanna Kozlowska , Reporter & Author of U Up? A Social History of Online Dating, which will be published with One Signal/Simon & Schuster in the US and Icon Books in the UK in 2027. This conversation was recorded…
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E28 · 28 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Read Me: The Books that Inspired the Computing Revolution
How can you truly grasp what is happening in computing? One powerful answer has endured: “Read a book!” In this conversation with historian W. Patrick McCray, we learn how the most influential books in computing didn’t just explain technology but also ignited the computer revolution. CHM curator, David C. Brock, moderates. This conversation was recorded on January 20, 2026, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. To watch a video of this program, please visit the Computer History Museum's YouTube channel. To learn more about the Computer History Museum and our upcoming…
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E26 · 31 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
The Future of Humanoid Robots
Humanoid robots are stepping out of science fiction and into our daily lives. But what does that mean for us? Chaoyi Li from Booster Robotics, Victor Suen from Fourier, and Niv Sundaram from Machani joined us for a conversation on how these machines are reshaping our expectations of technology, companionship, and what a healthy relationship with this technology might look like. CHM's Director and Curator of the Internet History Program, Marc Weber, moderated. This conversation, a partnership with the Humanoid Summit, was recorded on December 11, 2025, at the Computer History Museum in…
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E22 · 10 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 23 min
Morris Chang in Conversation with Jensen Huang
What happens when two tech visionaries sit down to talk? In this remarkable 2007 conversation, Dr. Morris Chang, the pioneering founder of TSMC, joins NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang to reflect on how his revolutionary silicon foundry model reshaped the semiconductor industry and powered the digital age. This conversation was recorded on October 17, 2007, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. To watch a video of this program, please visit the Computer History Museum's YouTube channel. To learn more about the Computer History Museum and our upcoming CHM Live events, visit our…
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E24 · 26 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
To Infinity and Beyond: The Story of Pixar's Stock Market Debut
In November 1995, Steve Jobs pitched Wall Street on a company with no revenues and an unproven film. That company was Pixar, and against all odds, Toy Story became a smash hit, the stock soared, and the deal rewrote the rules for tech investing while cementing Jobs as a visionary. Hear the untold stories behind one of Silicon Valley's most improbable successes from Lawrence Levy (Former Pixar CFO), Mike McCaffery (Former Robertson Stephens CEO), and Cristina Morgan (Former Head of Technology Investment Banking for Hambrecht & Quist). This program was coproduced by Paul Noglows, formerly with…
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E23 · 12 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
Taiwan Tech: The Origins of a High-Tech Industry
How did Taiwan ascend to such great heights in high-tech manufacturing? Honghong Tinn, author of Island Tinkerers, shares the fascinating history of how hobbyists and enthusiasts in Taiwan helped transform the country through innovative and creative computer use. CHM Curator Hansen Hsu moderates. This conversation was recorded on November 4, 2025, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, as a part of the CHM Live series. To watch a video of this program, please visit the Computer History Museum's YouTube channel. To learn more about the Computer History Museum and our…
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E20 · 29 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
Happy 40th Birthday Lisa: Apple’s Most Important Flop
How could a machine that transformed the way people interact with computers also be a commercial flop? On January 31, 2023, CHM gathered key insiders to celebrate the Apple Lisa’s innovations, explore its ongoing impact, and learn lessons from its failure. The Program was divided into three segments: "Birth" with original Lisa Team members Bruce Daniels, Wayne Rosing and John Couch (via recording) "This is Your Life, Lisa" with Graphic Designer Annette Wagner, Developer Bill Atkinson (via recording), and CHM's then President and CEO, Dan'l Lewin, who was the Lisa's Market Development…
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