We’ve had the internet for a while. There are parts of the process of using it that have changed enormously. This led me to wonder what Jeeves from Ask Jeeves is doing now. Chat GPT gave me a choice:

I prefer the second, more whimsical response. Here is Copilot’s answer:

I wonder how long will it take for people to be reminscing fondly about the early days of ChatGPT and Copilot? Hang on, I’ll ask.

People are already starting to reminisce fondly about the early days of ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot. This kind of nostalgia tends to emerge surprisingly quickly in the tech world — often within just 3 to 5 years — especially when rapid evolution makes older versions seem quaint or more “human.”

Here’s how the timeline often plays out:

Now (2024–2025)

• Early adopters and developers are already sharing stories like:
  • “Remember when GPT-3.5 would just totally hallucinate but in funny ways?”
  • “Copilot used to suggest the most hilariously wrong code. Good times.”
• There’s a certain charm in how limited or quirky the first versions were compared to today’s more polished tools.

In the Next 5–10 Years

• As AI tools become deeply embedded, less novel, and more powerful, the early versions will feel like the “wild west” era — full of potential, bugs, unpredictability, and creativity.
• People may miss the time when:
  • AI was still a tool, not a co-decision-maker.
  • It felt more like a collaborative assistant than an authoritative system.
  • There was a sense of discovery and experimentation.

Why the Nostalgia Happens Quickly

• AI is evolving much faster than most technologies. What took decades with personal computers or the internet is happening in a few years here.
• People often look back fondly at the “first time” they used a new technology that felt magical or game-changing.
• Early quirks and limitations create emotional attachments.

So, to answer directly: we’re already in the early stages of that nostalgia, and it will likely become much more pronounced by 2030 — especially if AI becomes more standardized, regulated, or embedded in everyday infrastructure.

Would you like to see examples of current posts or comments that show this kind of early nostalgia?

Here is Copilot’s answer:

I notice I’ve spelt reminiscing wrong in my prompts (I have learnt the word prompt, which is the thing you type to get ChatGPT or Copilot to do something). Writing good prompts is a skill I hope to learn.