Investing your money based on Bill Gates quotes might not be the worst idea out there.
Turns out, the billionaire businessman has a gift for predicting the future of technology — which, in our app-addicted age, means he can foresee almost anything. Sure, no one has as much insight into burgeoning advances than the people working to anticipate consumer needs, but he still has an eerily accurate eye for the future.
Bill Gates’ quotes prove he accurately predicted at least 15 different technologies that we use today, according to a list published by Business Insider. Though some are still in early adoption phases, they show no signs of dropping out of the digital marketplace as failed forays into tech innovation. Give it a couple more months, if you will, and we’re betting the list will be a rock-solid 15. (He gets bonus points for calling heavyweights like Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit and those annoying targeted ads that follow you around the internet.)
Check out these Bill Gates quotes that should be revised to “called it” about modern technologies you use every day:
Mobile devices
“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.”
Social media (like Facebook)
“Private websites for your friends and family will be common, allowing you to chat and plan for events.”
Interest-based sites (like Reddit)
“Online communities will not be influenced by your location, but rather, your interest.”
Smart advertising
“Devices will have smart advertising. They will know your purchasing trends, and will display advertisements that are tailored toward your preferences.”
Online recruiting (like LinkedIn)
“Similarly, people looking for work will be able to find employment opportunities online by declaring their interest, needs and specialized skills.”
Instant payment and online financing (like Venmo)
“People will pay their bills, take care of their finances and communicate with their doctors over the internet.”
Price comparison sites
“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.”
Automated promotional offers
“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.”
Home monitoring
“Constant video feeds of your house will become common, which inform you when somebody visits while you are not home.”
Links to websites during live TV
“Television broadcast will include links to relevant websites and content that complement what you are watching.”
Live sports discussion sites
“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.”
Online discussion boards
“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.”
Project management software
“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.”
Business community software
“Companies will be able to bid on jobs, whether they are looking for a construction project, a movie production or an advertising campaign. This will be efficient for both big companies that want to outsource work that they don’t usually face, businesses looking for new clients and corporations that don’t have a go-to provider for the said service.”
Personal assistants
“‘Personal companions’ will be developed. They will connect and sync all your devices in a smart way, whether they are at home or in the office, and allow them to exchange data. The device will check your email or notifications, and present the information that you need. When you go to the store, you can tell it what recipes you want to prepare, and it will generate a list of ingredients that you need to pick up. It will inform all the devices that you use of your purchases and schedule, allowing them to automatically adjust to what you’re doing.”
