Each May, the tech community revisits the predictions of Bill Gates, particularly those made at the end of any year divisible by five. This tradition celebrates Gates’ 1995 memorandum, a document titled “The abnormal wave of the internet”, which he sent to Microsoft collaborators on May 26, 1995. This memo, reminiscent of a fax, gained prominence during the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Microsoft from 1998 to 2001.

In this memo, Gates shifted focus from operating systems (during the Windows ’95 era) to the internet’s potential. He wrote, “The Internet is a tsunami.Change the rules. it is an remarkable possibility, but also an incredible challenge.” Some excerpts from that time now seem quaint. “Incredibly it is easier to find facts on the web than on the Microsoft company network. This reversal, in which a public network solves a problem better than a private network, is truly surprising.” He also predicted, “I think practically Each PC will be used to connect to the internet And that the Internet will help maintain a good performance of PC purchases for many years to come.The PCs will connect to the Internet in different ways. A normal telephone call using a modem at 14.4 KB or 28.8 KB will be the most widespread in the near future.”

Beyond the internet, Gates has also discussed the inevitability of future pandemics, stating in 2024, “It was inevitable in the next 25 years” and in 2025, “In the next four years it is indeed between 10% and 15%”. Following his divorce from Melinda in 2021, Gates has recently emphasized the role of artificial intelligence. “In the next five years You will not have to use different apps for different activities. You will simply tell your device, in everyday language, what you want to do (…) in the near future, anyone who is online will be able to have a personal assistant fueled by artificial intelligence which goes far beyond today’s technology.”

“The Internet is a tsunami. Change the rules. It is an incredible opportunity, but also an incredible challenge.”

The Enduring Impact of Gates’ Vision

Bill Gates’ 1995 memo serves as a reminder of the rapid technological advancements and the importance of adapting to change. His early recognition of the internet’s potential has had a lasting impact on the tech industry and beyond. His more recent predictions about AI suggest a similar transformative period ahead.

AI Assistants: The Next Frontier

Gates’ vision of AI-powered personal assistants reflects a growing trend in the tech world. As AI technology continues to evolve, these assistants promise to streamline our digital lives, making technology more accessible and intuitive.