Ross from Friends predicted in 1999 that AI would be smarter than us by 2030 while Ridley Scott’s seminal 1982 film Blade Runner is still hailed today as a masterclass in foresight
George Orwell, Kate Bush, and David Bowie have been named among the top cultural icons who most accurately predicted how we live today, according to research.
A poll of 2,000 adults found Kate Bush, Roald Dahl, and even Ross from Friends – who in 1999 predicted AI would be smarter than us by 2030 – made the top 10 list. Other cultural icons included Captain Kirk – who used to talk to computers, foldable communicators, and tablets as far back as the 1960s – and Ridley Scott.
The director’s seminal 1982 film Blade Runner is still hailed today as a masterclass in technological foresight The research was commissioned by Samsung for its ‘Visionary Hall of Fame’ and rounding off the top 10 are musicians Prince and Bjork – with the former predicting online dating and virtual relationships in his album 1999, released over 40 years ago.
While Bjork foresaw the rise of social media in the 1990s and 2000s, predicting that technology wouldn’t just be functional, it would become deeply personal.
Fearne Cotton has teamed up with the brand, as part of their Can Your Phone Do This campaign which highlights the capabilities of Galaxy AI, to go back to her chart show roots, in a brand-new countdown video which reveals the visionaries who feature on the list.
The broadcaster and author said: “These ten icons didn’t just dream about the future; they made it a reality. It’s incredible to see that the future they envisioned is already here, right at our fingertips.
The research also found self-driving cars (39%) topped the list of real-world innovations people remember seeing in pop culture before they became a reality. This was followed by artificial intelligence (39%) and video calling (33%), along with voice assistants (28%) and smart watches (22%).
Those polled were also quizzed on their use of AI apps or assistants, with 24% using these on their phones daily. Many use them to ask factual questions (43%), compose messages or emails (22%), and edit photos and videos (22%).
For 23%, they are even translating speech or text among the most used AI functions. In fact, almost seven in ten (68%) also agreed that today’s AI-powered smartphones feel as though you are carrying the future in your pocket.
Annika Bizon, from Samsung, added: “68% of Brits are amazed that these once-futuristic predictions are now part of everyday life, with over half crediting AI for boosting general knowledge and creativity.
“With Galaxy AI, we’re not just keeping pace with the predictions of modern-day visionaries, we’re actively shaping what comes next. We’re turning tomorrow’s possibilities into today’s realities, because when you hold the future in your hand, you’re not just ahead of the curve—you’re defining it.”
10 famous people who saw the future
1. George Orwell
2. The Simpsons
3. David Bowie
4. Captain Kirk from Star Trek
5. Ridley Scott
6. Kate Bush
7. Roald Dahl
8. Ross from Friends
9. Prince
10. Bjork
#Simpsons #Bowie #Ross #Friends #icons #predicted #future
