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Brits have revealed the top cultural visionaries who predicted the world we live in today. From George Orwell to David Bowie, a Samsung study of 2,000 people asked Brits to identify the cultural figures — from TV, music, film, and beyond — who most accurately predicted the technological and societal shifts that define modern life. Orwell – the author of 1984 who said that the world we live in isn’t always black and white, but more about who’s telling the story – tops the list, with sitcom The Simpsons and its visionary outlook meaning it sits in second. And it’s pop icon Bowie in third, who said the internet would ‘change society beyond all recognition’ in the ‘90s. The study, which celebrates the launch of Samsung’s Can Your Phone Do This? campaign – revealed Captain Kirk from Star Trek was fourth on the list, with Ridley Scott’s similar foreseeing of future technology in fifth. Kate Bush’s song ‘Deeper Understanding’ sees her also feature, with Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and Ross from Friends’ jokes about AI also placing them on the list. Prince’s prediction of online dating in his album 1999 and Bjork’s bold prediction about social media were also highlights by Brits surveyed, with Samsung’s campaign celebrating the incredible capabilities of Galaxy AI and empowering users to reshape daily life through unprecedented possibilities in communication, creativity and connection. Broadcaster and author Fearne Cotton has gone back to her chart show roots to reveal the Visionary Hall of Fame in a brand new countdown video. She 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.” Brits also identified the top five real world innovations they remember seeing in pop culture before they became a reality, with self-driving cars, artificial intelligence, video calling, voice assistants and smart watches among them. Almost seven in ten (68%) also agree that today’s AI-powered smartphones feel as though you are carrying the future in your pocket. Almost a quarter (24%) admit to using AI apps or assistants on their phones daily. Asking factual questions (43%), composing messages or emails (22%), photo/video editing (22%) and translating speech or text (23%) are among the most used AI functions Brits turn to as they navigate life. Samsung UK&I’s Mobile Experience VP, Annika Bizon 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 (52%) and creativity (43%). 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.”
