Ask HN: What are some unfulfilled promises of the internet

4 pointsjonathan-kosgei5y ago2 comments

Amazon seems to have fulfilled the promise of ecommerce, Google the promise of access to information, Spotify and Netflix the promise of digital entertainment, Email/Zoom/Social Media - the promise of global communication etc

Are there any promises of the early internet that remain unfulfilled or forgotten?

2 comments

2 comments · 2 top-level

totetsu5y ago

In my time reading HN I have learned how Amazon and Google have not exactly fulfilled these so much as coopted and twisted them.. I guess we haven't had global nuclear war to test the promised decentralized robustness yet.

mtmail5y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_Ahead_(Gates_book) talked about software agents which would go out and coordinate tasks on our behalf. Like dentist appointment because it would know our calendar or even book flights.

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