A 45-minute cinematic version of the series was developed for classroom use, enabling educators to integrate it into lessons on mathematics, social studies, or world history. Image courtesy of Spencer Striker Digital Learning.
All 30 90-second episodes are now fully available on YouTube. Image courtesy of Spencer Striker Digital Learning.
This AI-animated docudrama recounts the life of a ninth-century scholar whose contributions profoundly shaped modern mathematics and computer science.
We are using generative AI to tell the story of the man who made this technology possible. Every phone, search engine, and frontier AI model runs on a concept he invented 12 centuries ago in Baghdad.”— Spencer Striker, PhDDOHA, QATAR, September 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — DOHA, Qatar – September 2, 2026 – As of today, Spencer Striker Digital Learning has released all 30 installments of Al-Khwarizmi: Father of Algebra & the Algorithm at no cost on YouTube, along with a full 45-minute cinematic edition. The AI-animated docudrama follows a young scholar in ninth-century Baghdad whose innovations formed the basis of algebra and the algorithm. Viewers can choose between two formats: 30 serialized 90-second clips in the vertical style popularized by TikTok, or a single widescreen HD film that presents the entire narrative from beginning to end. Teachers can show the film during a class period, while students can watch the series directly on their phones.
Spencer Striker, PhD, a Professor of Digital Media Design at Northwestern University in Qatar and founder of Spencer Striker Digital Learning, created the series. “I’m sharing Al-Khwarizmi at no cost and in multiple formats,” Striker stated, “so that when teachers, students, or history buffs are looking for a visual depiction of this formative period in the history of mathematics, our series will be readily available.”
The series traces the lineage of modern computer science and AI back to Al-Khwarizmi’s work over 1,200 years ago. By merging Greek geometry with Indian arithmetic, he authored the first algebra textbook and described each procedure as step-by-step instructions that anyone could follow. When his writings reached Europe in Latin, his name was rendered as Algoritmi, which evolved into the term “algorithm.” His book’s title, Al-Jabr, became the word “algebra.”
Striker explained that he produced and released the landscape version of the series specifically for classroom use, allowing teachers and professors to incorporate it into math, social studies, or world history lessons. He also plans to provide his production notes to educators teaching courses on AI or animation.
"AI holds enormous promise, but without thinkers like Al-Khwarizmi, neither AI nor algebra would exist," Striker remarked. "Revealing the historical roots of these tools reminds students that there is no substitute for human intelligence and creativity."
Al-Khwarizmi: Father of Algebra & the Algorithm received support from the Doha Film Institute Web Series Grant and was chosen for the Qumra 2026 Series Lab.
About Spencer Striker Digital Learning
Spencer Striker Digital Learning creates free interactive learning experiences that blend AI with lifelike digital media design, focusing on topics that help students understand complex issues. Spencer Striker holds a professorship in Digital Media Design at Northwestern University in Qatar. His award-winning projects include apps, games, motion comics, VR, and web-based storytelling. Find out more at SpencerStriker.com.
###
Media Contact:
Chris Piehler for Spencer Striker Digital Learning
Pando Public Relations
chris@pandopublicrelations.com
Chris Piehler
Pando Public Relations
chris@pandopublicrelations.com
