Tesla, SpaceX and Neuralink founder Elon Musk is always in the news for his bold predictions about the future of technology. In an interview in 1998, he expressed an idea about the future of the Internet, which was completely unbelievable to many at that time. Many have dismissed it as a delusion. However, today, in 2024, his prediction has been proven almost completely true. Recently, a video clip of that speech went viral on social media and the discussion about it has started anew.
In a 1998 interview on CBS Sunday Morning, Musk was asked about the future of the Internet. He replied that it would be a revolutionary medium that would eventually merge all traditional media. He said, “The Internet is the sum of all media. It is the ultimate form of media. Print, broadcast, and radio—all will merge into the Internet. It will be the first intelligent two-way communication medium, where users can choose the content they want—when and how they want it.”
At that time, the Internet was in its infancy and most people thought Elon Musk’s comments were ‘incredible’ or ‘crazy’. Because, in 1998, the commercial use of the Internet was only seven years old. It was still mainly limited to e-mail and simple website use. Social media or streaming platforms were still unimaginable. At that time, Musk’s prediction was really a long-term thought. However, Musk was talking about a future where the Internet would be the main medium for all types of communication, information and entertainment.
A video clip of Musk’s 1998 prediction has recently gone viral on social media. Musk himself shared the video on December 10 and commented, “The incredible thing is that when I made this very clear prediction, everyone called me crazy.”
Social media users have had mixed reactions to the video, with some praising Musk as a “visionary” while others jokingly said, “You must be from the future.” One user wrote, “It seems simple now, but it was absolutely bizarre in 1998.” While some critics dismissed it as just a “luckily accurate guess,” most people consider it an absolutely accurate prediction.
Musk’s predictions in today’s reality
Today, Elon Musk’s prediction has largely been proven correct. The Internet has now become the center of all forms of media. Some of its notable features are:
Streaming services: Platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify have now replaced TV and radio and become the main medium of entertainment.
Social media: Platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok have completely changed the way people share and consume content.
Interactive media: Online media now allows users to view and select content in their own way, which is consistent with Musk’s concept of a ‘two-way communication medium’.
