Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
For 80 years, computing has expanded knowledge and connectivity—transforming lives, industries, and scientific discovery. Over the past generation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory has become a global leader in computing innovation at scale: repeatedly deploying the world’s most powerful systems, pioneering the first GPU-accelerated supercomputer that helped spark today’s AI boom, and breaking the exascale barrier. Each leap in performance has enabled researchers to model complex physical systems—from quantum to cosmic scales—with direct impact on U.S. research and development. In this 3.5-minute video, ORNL experts share how the lab is shaping what comes next.
History vignette: The opening scene is inspired by a real moment from ORNL’s past. Since the early 1980s, ORNL researchers have integrated AI into robotic instruments—starting with foundational technologies like sensors and robotic arms. In 1984, a researcher even played checkers against an AI-powered robotic arm. Learn more: Tracing throughlines: A brief history of artificial intelligence at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Special thanks to vintage Geek Museum @vintagegeek
ORNL is using #BigScience to make a big impact. Learn more: ornl.gov/bigscience
For 80 years, computing has expanded knowledge and connectivity—transforming lives, industries, and scientific discovery. Over the past generation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory has become a global leader in computing innovation at scale: repeatedly deploying the world’s most powerful systems, pioneering the first GPU-accelerated supercomputer that helped spark today’s AI boom, and breaking the exascale barrier. Each leap in performance has enabled researchers to model complex physical systems—from quantum to cosmic scales—with direct impact on U.S. research and development. In this 3.5-minute video, ORNL experts share how the lab is shaping what comes next.
History vignette: The opening scene is inspired by a real moment from ORNL’s past. Since the early 1980s, ORNL researchers have integrated AI into robotic instruments—starting with foundational technologies like sensors and robotic arms. In 1984, a researcher even played checkers against an AI-powered robotic arm. Learn more: Tracing throughlines: A brief history of artificial intelligence at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Special thanks to vintage Geek Museum @vintagegeek
ORNL is using #BigScience to make a big impact. Learn more: ornl.gov/bigscience
