The Untold Story of the Internet's Inception

In 1972, following the release of the Pentagon Papers, a small institute in Los Angeles was given the power to design, develop and run the Internet. What followed was one of the greatest explosions of information in human history.

Cloudwalkers chronicles the journey of the pioneering minds at USC's Information Sciences Institute, the visionary engineers who laid the foundation for the internet. Working on the shores of the Pacific, this legendary group ignited a technological revolution that redefined how we connect, communicate, and innovate—transforming fields as diverse as medicine, sports, and space exploration. This documentary uncovers the untold story of the internet’s origins and the seismic shifts it set in motion, ushering in The Second Machine Age. But with such extraordinary progress came profound dilemmas. The very architects of this digital frontier now grapple with the unintended consequences of their creation, torn between the promise it once held and the challenges it has introduced. Through their triumphs, setbacks, and evolving perspectives, Cloudwalkers offers an intimate look at the human side of innovation—where ambition collides with responsibility, and the future remains unwritten.