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i50 IEEE: Towards a People Centered Digital Future. A Celebration of 50 Years of The Internet
May 19 @ 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm PDT
IEEE invites Internet enthusiasts and 460,000+ IEEE members from over 190 countries to join an engaging live-stream as we look back at the Internet’s humble beginnings and the important contributions of IEEE.
IEEE is privileged to have The Honorable Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, in an exclusive interview conducted by Konstantinos Karachalios, past Managing Director of the IEEE Standards Association. This is a unique and historic moment for our IEEE community. The Prime Minister deeply understands the transformative power of the Internet, and he has been leading a successful Digital Transformation of his country.
In May 1974, the IEEE Transactions on Communications scientific journal published the seminal paper “A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication.” Authored by Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn, this paper described the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) that supported the interconnection of multiple packet-switched networks into a network of networks.
Join Vint Cerf and other luminaries in celebrating this milestone and exploring what is next in the evolution of the internet. Technical innovators and global leaders will discuss these breakthroughs and contemplate what it will take to create a people-centric future where the Internet benefits all of humanity. Join us on Sunday, 19 May 2024 as we celebrate the Internet’s 50th anniversary!
Watch event recording: https://ieeetv.ieee.org/video/our-virtual-celebration-of-50-years-of-the-internet-an-ieee-milestone-event
Event Highlights
- Opening Session:
Vint Cerf, Bob Kahn, and Mei Lin Fung will recount the invention of TCP 50 years ago. They will be joined by Judy Estrin and John Shoch, formerly of Xerox PARC, to discuss its profound impact on the world. - Keynote Interview:
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will headline the event in an exclusive interview conducted by former IEEE senior leader Konstantinos Karachalios. This is a unique and historic moment for our community. - UN Tech Envoy:
Amandeep Singh Gill, the UN Tech Envoy, will discuss the upcoming Global Digital Compact, set to be signed by 193 nations at the UN Summit in September. This compact will shape the future of our digital world. - AI Insights:
Keith Strier, NVIDIA’s Head of Worldwide AI, will share his expertise on AI governance and the crucial intersection of the public and private sectors. - Digital India:
Pramod Varma, the architect of Digital India, will present his journey in creating the India Stack. His work has transformed India’s financial landscape, enabling 800 million Indians to open bank accounts in just 10 years.
- Gates Foundation:
Sanjay Jain, the newly appointed Director for Digital Public Infrastructure at the Gates Foundation, will debut his speech on the Foundation’s efforts to support global digital transformation through investments in digital payments and identity systems. - Bangladesh’s Vision:
Anir Chowdhury, the digital visionary for Bangladesh, will speak on his innovative approach to AI and digital public infrastructure, which has significantly reduced cyclone-induced flood fatalities and is setting Bangladesh on a path to becoming a middle-income country by 2040. - Special Appearance:
Prof. Fei-Fei Li, the inaugural Sequoia Professor in the Computer Science Department at Stanford University and Co-Director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute, will discuss how AI can serve humanity and enable human development.
Official PCI Press Release
Official IEEE Press Release
We are pleased to announce that our Senior Fellows, Kate Wilson and David Kirkpatrick, will serve as the event MCs. Kate, the host of the Digital Decisions podcast and former CEO of the Digital Impact Alliance, has worked with over 50 governments on digital transformation and governance. David, author of “The Facebook Effect” and founder of Techonomy, is a seasoned journalist and tech expert. Their insights and guidance will ensure a dynamic and engaging event.
The afternoon will also feature a robust discussion with key inventors of the 802 wireless protocols, and we will conclude with closing thoughts from Bob Metcalfe and Mei Lin Fung on the history and impact of Ethernet and its future.
We are excited to have you join us for this unique and historic event. Please register to attend virtually.
“We will encourage you to help us imagine what’s possible in the next 50 years of Internet’s evolution.”
Vint Cerf, often referred to as one of the “Fathers of the Internet,” is a prominent figure in the realm of digital innovation. As a co-founder of the People-Centered Internet (PCI), he has extended his pioneering spirit from his early work on the development of the Internet to ensure that this revolutionary technology serves the needs and aspirations of people around the world.