Surprise Over Age of Fundamental Algorithms: Modern AI Excluded from Standard University Courses (opens in new tab)

Introduction: The Timeless Nature of Algorithms When you crack open a standard Data Structures and Algorithms textbook, it’s easy to assume the contents are products of the digital age. But here’s the kicker: many of these algorithms were devised centuries before computers existed. Take the Euclidean algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor—it dates back to 300 BCE. Or the sieve of Eratosthenes, a method for finding prime numbers, invented around 200 BCE. These aren’t relics; they’re...