Computer Science | Penn Today

Jean Bartik (left) and Frances Spence operating the ENIAC’s main control panel in 1946.

Penn’s ENIAC, the world’s first electronic computer, turns 80

Housed in the University of Pennsylvania’s Moore School Building, ENIAC—the first programmable, electronic, general-purpose computer—launched in 1946. ENIAC’s ability to be reprogrammed to solve a wide range of complex numerical problems was revolutionary and laid the foundation for modern digital systems.

4 min. read

Why engineers in Philadelphia created ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer

Dean Vijay Kumar of the School of Engineering and Applied Science says ENIAC is probably the biggest invention in the world.

Penn Engineering launches new master’s program in software systems and cybersecurity

Penn’s new Master of Science in Engineering in Software Systems and Cybersecurity (MSE-SSC) integrates advanced training in software systems and cybersecurity into a single degree, offered in both online and residential formats.

College Hall seen through the archway of Fischer Fine Arts.

Awards and accolades for Penn faculty

A roundup of appointments and awards for various members of Penn’s faculty across several schools.

2 min. read

Headshots of Konrad Kording (left) and Ioana Marinescu (right).

How might AI shape the future of work?

Computer scientist Konrad Kording and economist Ioana Marinescu have developed an interactive model that incorporates assumptions from both their fields to predict how AI will affect wages, jobs, and the overall economy.

4 min. read

Game theory explains how algorithms can drive up prices

Aaron Roth of the School of Engineering and Applied Science examines algorithmic pricing.

The forgotten pioneers of computational physics

The first fully electronic, general-purpose computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), became operational at Penn.

Surbhi Goel named 2025 Schmidt Sciences AI2050 Early Career Fellow

The Magerman Term Assistant Professor in Computer and Information Science at Penn Engineering has been named a 2025 Schmidt Sciences AI2050 Early Career Fellow. The funding awarded will apply to research that explores AI’s potential to create a healthier, more resilient and more secure world.

Dongyin Hu models BlinkWise glasses at his computer station.

AI at the eyelid: Glasses that track health through your blinks

Researchers at Penn Engineering have developed BlinkWise, an AI-powered system that uses radio waves to monitor blinks and eye health.