Caltech Together: Silicon Valley

“Information: From Life to Artificial Intelligence”. Join Us for an In-Person Event

Thursday, September 18, 2025
6:00 – 8:15 p.m.

Intuitive Surgical
Café in B108
1020 Kifer Road
Sunnyvale, CA 94086

If you would like to attend, register in advance for this event here.

For our next dinner event, Shuki Bruck will discuss the evolution of information systems through three mega events: life, natural language, and now AI, asking whether AI could radically transform how we create, encode, and comprehend meaning. He is Caltech’s Gordon and Betty Moore Professor emeritus, known for pioneering work in information theory, neural networks, and DNA computing; recipient of the Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching; founder of Caltech’s IST program; and co-founder of three startups, including XtremIO, whose flash storage system’s revenue reached $3B within three years of launch.

Attendance is limited to 60 people.

To attend, please pay $30 by September 16 at 4:00 p.m. (PT) to our alumni volunteer David Adler via Venmo (last 4 digits of his phone # 7164) or Paypal. Due to limited capacity, you won’t be admitted if you haven’t paid. After paying, click here for your name tag.

Dinner Menu
Turkey Havarti Sandwich
Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwich
Tunacado Sandwich
Roasted Portobello Sandwich

Sides
House Made Potato Chips Mixed Green Salad Balsamic Vinaigrette Ranch Dressing

Dessert
Chef’s Assortment

With assortment of drinks provided by Intuitiv.

We look forward to seeing you!

Peter Tong

“Information: From Life to Artificial Intelligence”
By Shuki Bruck

Information, like physics, is a first-order concept, fundamental to life, intelligence, and human progress. This talk traces the evolution of information systems through the lens of information mega events—rare, transformative shifts in how information is encoded, transmitted, and used. The first information mega event was the emergence of life, when DNA began encoding structure and behavior, and evolution became a process of accumulating survival-critical information.

The second was the rise of the human brain and natural language—a system of syntax and semantics that enabled memory, communication, and creativity, leading to the invention of new languages, from mathematics to music.

Today, artificial intelligence introduces a new and uncertain force in this trajectory. Its long-term impact remains unknown, but it raises the possibility of a third information mega event. Could AI invent new languages, generate meaning, and transform how humanity evolves, not only in how we communicate, but also in how we teach, learn, and comprehend the world?

About the Speaker

Jehoshua (Shuki) Bruck is the Gordon and Betty Moore Professor of Computation and Neural Systems and Electrical Engineering, emeritus, at Caltech. His research treats information as a first-order concept—fundamental to life, intelligence, and technology. He has made pioneering contributions to neural network architectures, DNA computing and storage, information theory, error-correcting codes, and storage systems. He has published over 350 papers and holds more than 50 U.S. patents.

At Caltech, Shuki mentored 21 PhD students and 15 postdocs; 22 of his 36 alumni now hold faculty positions. He created and taught Information and Logic, an undergraduate course that explores the historical emergence of core ideas in information, highlighting their impact on modern thought and technology. For this work, he received Caltech’s Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching, the Institute’s highest teaching honor. He also founded Caltech’s Information Science and Technology (IST) program, raising over $60 million to establish the initiative and construct its dedicated building.

In industry, Shuki co-founded three startups: Rainfinity, XtremIO, and MemVerge. Rainfinity and XtremIO were both acquired by EMC. XtremIO’s all-flash storage system redefined enterprise data storage, reaching $3 billion in revenue within three years—the fastest product ramp-up in the industry. MemVerge develops software for memory-centric AI infrastructure.

Our Alumni Volunteers‍

The following alumni work together to serve you: Avni Gandhi, Dave Adler, Jane Frommer, Mike Klein, Susan Huynh, and Peter Tong.