Rewriting the Narrative: How Machine Learning is Finding Lost Female Voices

​By: G. Maranhão 

Have you ever wondered what was the first algorithm written in history? While some may
presume that it all started with the creation of ENIAC, the first general-purpose computer, that is
wholly untrue. About 102 years prior, mathematician Ada Lovelace created the very first computer
program by writing the algorithm for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine in 1843. However, for
over a century, her groundbreaking work was all but lost; her work remained shrouded between
the pages of history. Lovelace passed away at the early age of 36 from cervical cancer, leaving
little legacy behind, while others, like Babbage himself, worked and lived long enough to be
celebrated as the "father of the computer". It wasn't until historians revisited her notes in the 20th
century that Lovelace was recognized as a visionary.
This kind of tale has been exceedingly and incessantly repeated throughout history, with
countless, nameless brilliant women living and dying in the shadows of society; paying the cruel
price of being a woman. Having that in mind, discussing and learning about women's history is
crucial to the understanding of the entire scope of human accomplishment and unveiling a better
grasp of the past. Therefore, historians over the last century have been striving to place women's
achievements in the limelight, using new research techniques and technologies to lift the lid on
secrets that lie within.
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Since March 2025, the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum has opened its
Discoverability Lab, employing the latest artificial intelligence and machine learning to unearth
the once forgotten achievements of women throughout history. AI is applied to sift through
historical documents, from digitized manuscripts and newspapers to museum collections and
letters, looking for women who may have been excluded or overlooked from prevailing historical
records. This incredible effort enables the revelation of stories of women from a wide variety of
fields - science, politics, literature, and beyond. This technology takes what would require a
lifetime of research from humans and turns it into brief moments which will change the course of
history.


The Discoverability Lab represents just one example of how AI and technology are being
harnessed to reshape our understanding of history. Its work contributes to a growing recognition
that female voices - whether in the form of written records, scientific breakthroughs, or political
movements - have been systematically overlooked throughout history. By making these
contributions visible, we open up possibilities for more women to see themselves as leaders,
inventors, and change-makers in their own lives. Furthermore, recognizing women’s contributions
to the development of ideas and systems can also foster a more equitable future. As history is
constantly being reinterpreted, initiatives like the Discoverability Lab, which aim to truly unravel
women’s history, push for a more comprehensive and nuanced narrative that reflects the marvel
of human achievements.