One of the big first computers was called SAGE, which was a

In the grand march of human progress, there are moments when the world shifts—when the very tools that shape the future are forged not in the quiet spaces of peaceful endeavor, but in the turmoil of war and defense. Marc Andreessen, in recalling the history of the SAGE computer, a missile-defense system, speaks to a profound moment in time: “One of the big first computers was called SAGE, which was a missile defense, the first missile-defense computer, which was, like, one of the first computers in the history of the world which got sold to the Department of Defense for, I don't know, tens and tens of millions of dollars at the time.” These words, though seemingly simple, capture the essence of technology’s birth—a birth that occurred not in the peaceful quest for knowledge, but in the heat of a world preparing for the possibility of destruction.

In the ancient world, great inventions were often born from the need for defense and warfare. Consider the Greek fire, a mysterious weapon used by the Byzantine Empire to defend its cities. It was born of necessity, created not for the peaceful purposes of agriculture or art, but for the destruction of enemies. The SAGE computer represents a similar shift in human ingenuity—one that arose not from the desire for progress, but out of the need for survival. The military-industrial complex of the 20th century, much like the empires of old, sought the most advanced tools, and in doing so, they helped push forward the technology that would shape the world for generations to come.

The SAGE computer was the first missile-defense system, a marvel of engineering and innovation designed to counter the growing threat of missile warfare during the Cold War. In the same way that the ancients built walls and fortifications to protect their cities, the creators of SAGE built a digital fortress to defend the nation. But, just as the walls of Troy were eventually breached, so too would the early digital defenses of the modern world be surpassed by time. Yet, the value of SAGE was not in its lasting power but in the revolution it represented—a leap from the physical realm of stone and iron to the world of information and calculation.

In the tales of ancient heroes, we often find that their greatest challenges arise not from the monsters they fight, but from the very weapons they use to face these challenges. Heracles wielded the club and the bow, tools that gave him the strength to face his foes. Likewise, the creators of the SAGE computer built a weapon of immense power, not in the traditional sense, but in the form of logic and calculation. It is a stark reminder that the greatest battles of the modern world are not fought with swords or spears, but with the tools of the mind—computers that can shape entire civilizations.

The lesson we can glean from the SAGE computer is a complex one. Technology, as it always has, will continue to be shaped by the forces of fear, desire, and necessity. The first computers were not designed to improve lives or explore the far reaches of space, but to protect the world from the very forces that threatened to destroy it. This is not to say that technology is inherently linked to destruction—indeed, many inventions born in times of war have gone on to serve the greater good—but it is a reminder that the path of progress is often twisted, shaped by the immediate needs of society rather than its long-term desires.

Thus, the practical wisdom here is this: while we cannot control the circumstances under which great technological leaps occur, we do have the power to shape their ultimate purpose. As we move forward, let us be mindful of the tools we create and the forces that drive their development. We must ask ourselves: are we building the next SAGE to protect us from external threats, or are we using our technology to connect, to enlighten, and to transform the world into something more than just a defensive stance against chaos? The lesson is not simply to create, but to create wisely—to use our innovations for the betterment of humanity, not merely as tools for defense or destruction.

Let us, then, look upon the birth of the SAGE computer and recognize it as both a triumph and a warning. Technology, like the heroes of old, can be both a force for good and a weapon of destruction. In our hands, it can be shaped to bring about great progress, or it can remain locked in the cycle of fear and survival. The choice, as it always has been, is ours.