Bill Gates made 15 huge predictions 25 years ago and every single one has come true
There are plenty of people who claim they can predict the future like The Simpsons creators accurately foreshadowing the Barbie movie dropping the same day President Trump was arrested.
But when it comes to tech, Bill Gates has a lot of credibility.
As the founder of Microsoft, he had a pretty good sense of where the future of technology was headed.
In 1999, the tech billionaire made some bold predictions in his book Business @ the Speed of Thought and every single one of his 15 predictions has come true:
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Price comparison sites
There was a time when finding the best deal for anything meant hours of research. Now, thanks to websites like Compare the Market and Moneysupermarket, we can compare prices for everything from tech products to insurance quotes in seconds.
Gates predicted: "Automated price comparison services will be developed, allowing people to see prices across multiple websites, making it effortless to find the cheapest product for all industries."
Mobile phones
These days, our phones are basically extensions of ourselves, but back in 1999, most people were carrying around chunky Nokia phones with not much to offer besides Snake or a quick text/phone call.
Gates certainly saw the potential early on: "People will carry around small devices that allow them to constantly stay in touch and do electronic business from wherever they are.
"They will be able to check the news, see flights they have booked, get information from financial markets, and do just about anything else on these devices."
Online finance
Gone are the days of heading to the bank for every major transaction as now, we have online banking that handles everything from money transfers to paying for our weekly shopping - just as Gates projected.
He also predicted the medical field would go digital and now we have online consultations and digital prescriptions.
He wrote: "People will pay their bills, take care of their finances, and communicate with their doctors over the internet."
Virtual assistants
Whilst Gates didn't specifically predict Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant, he did envision a future alongside virtual helpers.
He believed we'd have 'personal companions' that would "connect and sync all your devices in a smart way [...] and allow them to exchange data."
He proceeded: "It will inform all the devices that you use of your purchases and schedule, allowing them to automatically adjust to what you're doing."
Home-monitoring systems
Gates wasn't just on the ball about handheld tech, he also speculated the future of home security and predicted the equivalent of today's Ring doorbells and Google Nest as an upgrade from CCTV cameras.
"Constant video feeds of your house will become common, which inform you when somebody visits while you are not home," he wrote.
Social media
Back in the 90s, staying in touch with friends usually meant calling them or visiting in person. But Gates was already imagining 'private websites for your friends and family' that would allow us to 'chat and plan for events.'
Whilst not exactly 'private,' apps like Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp keep us connected to our friends and family from almost anywhere and everywhere.
Auto-generated adverts
The father-of-three foresaw the rise of personalised ads: "Software that knows when you've booked a trip and uses that information to suggest activities at the local destination.
"It suggests activities, discounts, offers, and cheaper prices for all the things that you want to take part in."
Smart adverts
These days, it feels like ads follow us everywhere, overhearing our conversations and presenting us with what we might purchase.
Gates also saw this coming in that our devices will have 'smart advertising.'
He added: "They will know your purchasing trends, and will display advertisements that are tailored toward your preferences."
Sports discussion websites
Yes, the philanthropist even predicted a future where sports fans could view updates and scores of live sports games - even betting.
He wrote: "While watching a sports competition on television, services will allow you to discuss what is going on live, and enter a contest where you vote on who you think will win."
Links to sites during live TV
Gates also forecasted how ads would evolve, with future commercials including links or QR codes that direct viewers to online content or social media.
He reported: "Television broadcast will include links to relevant websites and content that complement what you are watching."
Virtual discussion boards
The 68-year-old predicted that the internet would be used for local discussions too: "Residents of cities and countries will be able to have internet-based discussions concerning issues that affect them, such as local politics, city planning, or safety."
Online communities
"Online communities will not be influenced by your location, but rather, your interest," Gates said.
Essentially, the tech mogul saw the rise of global online communities where people could connect over shared interests - say, Reddit?
Project-management software
Apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams have become essential in today’s (hybrid) workplace, but Gates had the idea over two decades ago.
"Project managers looking to put a team together will be able to go online, describe the project, and receive recommendations for available people who would fit their requirements," he wrote.
Online recruiting
LinkedIn has definitely changed the game for job hunting, and staying in contact with former colleagues and you guessed it, Gates foresaw the potential for this type of professional networking.
He noted: "Similarly, people looking for work will be able to find employment opportunities online by declaring their interest, needs, and specialised skills."
Business community software
Gates also envisioned a future where companies could bid for jobs online: "Companies will be able to bid on jobs, whether they are looking for a construction project, a movie production, or an advertising campaign."
He believed this would help 'both big businesses' to 'outsource work' efficiently and find new clients.