From ARPANET to AI Overviews: A brief history of the Internet

The internet as we know it today has a long history that goes back to the 1960s, but its official birth date is 1st January 1983. On that day, a new system called TCP/IP was fully switched on, which allowed different computer networks to talk to each other in the same “language” — creating the foundation for the modern internet.

Before that, in 1969, the U.S. government created ARPANET, the first network to connect computers in different places and allow them to send messages to one another. It was mainly used by researchers and universities to send messages and share information. But it didn’t fully work like the internet we use now.

At first, the internet with TCP/IP switched on was only used by universities, governments, and experts. But things changed in the 1980s and 1990s when, In 1989, a British scientist named Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web while working at CERN, a research centre in Switzerland. He made it easier for people to access and share information using websites and links. The first website went live in 1991.

From then on, the internet grew quickly, and today, the internet connects billions of people around the world and is used for everything from learning and work to shopping and entertainment.

The Beginning – ARPANET (1969)

The story of the internet begins in the tense environment of the Cold War. The United States Department of Defense created the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to explore high-tech military innovations, and out of this initiative came ARPANET, a pioneering computer network developed in 1969. The goal was to connect different research institutions and allow them to share computing resources without relying on a central hub, which meant communication could continue even if part of the network was destroyed.

The first nodes on ARPANET were at UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah. On 29 October 1969, the first message was sent between UCLA and Stanford. The intended message was "LOGIN," but the system crashed after just two letters were transmitted – "LO".

Despite the hiccup, this was the first step in what would become a global communication revolution. ARPANET’s innovation was in using packet switching, a method of breaking data into smaller packets that are sent independently across the network and reassembled at the destination.

TCP/IP – A Universal Language for Networks (1983)

As more organisations built their own networks in the 1970s and early 1980s, a major problem emerged: these networks couldn't communicate with one another because they used different protocols. To solve this, Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn developed the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). TCP/IP allowed any network to connect to any other network, regardless of the hardware or operating systems in use.

On 1 January 1983, ARPANET officially adopted TCP/IP, marking the true beginning of the modern internet. At the same time, the Domain Name System (DNS) was introduced, replacing numeric IP addresses with easy-to-remember domain names like example.com. This made the internet much more accessible for non-technical users.

Launch of the World Wide Web (1989–1991)

Although the internet was growing, it remained largely a tool for academics and government researchers. In 1989, British scientist Tim Berners-Lee, working at CERN in Switzerland, proposed a system to make information sharing easier. He called it the World Wide Web. His idea was to create a set of interconnected documents using hypertext that could be accessed via a browser.

By 1990, Berners-Lee had created the first web browser (called WorldWideWeb), the first web server, and the first website. In 1991, the Web was made publicly available. The system was built on three key technologies:

• HTML (HyperText Markup Language): for creating content

• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): for transmitting information

• URL (Uniform Resource Locator): for identifying web pages

This new way of organising and accessing information transformed the internet from a niche academic tool into something anyone could use. It democratised information and marked the start of the information age.

The Dot-Com Boom and the Rise of Web Browsers (1993–2000)

To use the World Wide Web, people needed a web browser. In 1993, a team at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) released Mosaic, the first browser that could display both text and images together in one window. Mosaic was user-friendly and worked on multiple operating systems, helping the Web grow rapidly.

Mosaic's success led to the creation of Netscape Navigator, which dominated the browser market in the mid-1990s. Microsoft responded with Internet Explorer, launching the "browser wars." As access to the internet expanded, new businesses emerged online. Amazon (founded in 1994), eBay (1995), and Yahoo! (1995) were among the first major dot-com companies.

Investment flooded into internet startups during the dot-com boom (1995–2000). Many companies with no clear business model raised millions of dollars, betting on the idea that the internet would transform everything. While the bubble burst in 2000, the period laid the groundwork for the modern economy of the internet.

Search Engines and the Rise of Google (2000 – 2004)

As the Web grew, finding relevant information became increasingly difficult. Early search engines like AltaVista, Excite, and Yahoo! offered basic keyword search, but their results were often not related enough to what people were searching. In 1998, two Stanford University students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, launched Google, using a unique algorithm called PageRank. It ranked web pages based on how many other pages linked to them, which tended to highlight more useful or popular content.

Google's clean interface, fast performance, and accurate results quickly made it the dominant search engine. What set Google apart was its focus on user experience and its investment in infrastructure, such as vast data centres, to ensure fast, reliable access to information.

Over time, Google expanded into a variety of services: Gmail (2004) revolutionised email with its large storage and effective spam filtering; Google Maps (2005) transformed navigation; Google Docs (2006) introduced real-time online document editing; and the acquisition of YouTube (2006) positioned Google at the forefront of online video.

The Social Media Era Begins (2008)

The early 2000s introduced Web 2.0, a more interactive version of the web where users could create and share their own content. One of the most impactful platforms was Facebook, founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard. Originally limited to university students, Facebook quickly opened up to the public and spread worldwide.

Facebook allowed users to create personal profiles, post updates, share photos and videos, and connect with others. Its news feed model revolutionised how information and updates were consumed, putting the focus on a continuous stream of content. Facebook also introduced features such as groups, pages, events, and later stories, which encouraged real-time engagement.

Other social platforms followed: YouTube (2005) offered video-sharing capabilities that created the influencer era; Twitter (2006) enabled brief, rapid communication and became a hub for breaking news and public discourse; Instagram (2010) focused on visual storytelling and became highly influential in the fashion, travel, and lifestyle industries; Snapchat introduced ephemeral messaging; and TikTok (2016) popularised short-form mobile video with advanced editing tools and viral trends.

Smartphones and the Always-On Internet (2007)

The launch of the Apple iPhone in 2007 was a turning point in technology. It wasn’t the first smartphone, but it redefined what one could be – a sleek, touchscreen device combining phone, internet, music, and camera. In 2008, Apple introduced the App Store, allowing developers to create and distribute mobile apps for everything from messaging and finance to health and entertainment.

Android, developed by Google, quickly followed, and together Android and iOS came to dominate the smartphone market. With widespread access to 3G, 4G, and later 5G networks, the internet became available almost everywhere, all the time. This marked the beginning of the mobile-first era.

Smartphones transformed everyday habits. People now checked emails, managed calendars, navigated cities, shared updates, and shopped from their phones. Mobile apps replaced many functions once performed on desktop computers. Social media, instant messaging (WhatsApp, Messenger), video calling (Skype, FaceTime), ride-hailing (Uber), and mobile banking all became integral to daily life.

For billions of people, smartphones have become their primary or only way of accessing the internet. In developing regions, mobile connectivity played a major role in digital inclusion, helping to close the global digital divide.

Cloud Computing and Streaming (2010s)

In the 2010s, the internet underwent another shift with the rise of cloud computing. This technology allowed people to store and process data over the internet instead of on local machines, with Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, and Microsoft OneDrive enabling file storage and sharing across devices. This also gave birth to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms like Salesforce, Slack, and Zoom, giving people and businesses new ways to communicate and interact like never before.

At the same time, streaming services were changing how people consumed entertainment. Netflix, once a DVD rental service, shifted to on-demand video streaming in 2007 and began producing original content. Spotify, launched in 2008, revolutionised music by offering access to millions of songs through a subscription model. YouTube, already massive in the noughties, quickly grew to become the world’s largest video platform, hosting everything from DIY tutorials to music videos and the first Vlogs.

Streaming offered convenience, personalisation, and instant access and traditional television, radio, and even cinema faced disruption as audiences flocked to internet-based services.

The rise of ChatGPT and AI search (2022 – ?)

AI already had already powered everything from search engines and recommendation algorithms to voice assistants like Alexa and Siri. But a major leap came with the development of generative AI – systems that can create content, not just analyse it.

In 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT, a powerful chatbot based on a large language model. ChatGPT could understand natural language, hold human-like conversations, and generate detailed responses on nearly any topic, and instead of just listing links, ChatGPT could explain things, suggest ideas, or help with writing. This was a big change to the internet because it made searching for information more like having a conversation with an expert on everything rather than having to trail through countless articles on the web.

Around the same time, Google started adding AI-powered features to its search engine. In early 2023, Google introduced AI overviews as part of a experimental update to search called “Search Generative Experience” (SGE). AI Overviews are short summaries generated by AI that appear at the top of search results, giving users quick and easy-to-read information about complex topics without having to click many links. This transformed the internet itself.

With AI providing instant, accurate answers, in 2025 people spend less time browsing through websites than ever before and more time getting the information they need straight away.

The internet is always changing, and the next few years could bring big improvements to how we live, work, and connect with others – and not just because of AI. Faster internet speeds, full-fibre broadband, and 5G and 6G rollout will make it quicker to watch videos, play games, and use apps without delays.

The way we use the internet is likely to chage too. We’ll probably see more of the “Internet of Things” – where everyday items like fridges, watches, and even cars are connected online. These smart devices will make life more convenient by sharing information and working together.

At the same time, the internet will face new challenges. Things like online safety, cyberbullying, privacy, and the spread of false information will need careful attention.

People, companies, and governments will all have to work together to make sure the internet stays open, safe, and fair for everyone.

The internet is changing fast – and at Virgin Media, we’re here to make sure you’re ready for whatever comes next. From AI tools and smart homes to 4K streaming and online gaming, the future will demand more speed, more power, and more reliability. That’s where we come in.

We’re rolling out next-generation full-fibre technology across the UK, delivering speeds up to 1Gbps and beyond and a connection that’s faster, more reliable, and built to handle whatever comes next. Whether you’re working, learning, relaxing, or connecting with loved ones, we’ve got you covered, today and tomorrow.

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