The future according to Google search results
Lots of people want to know what the future holds and Google, it has to be said, is most people's go to reference, so is Google good at predicting the future? Well, check it out for yourself.
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Griffin, M. (2017) 'The future according to Google search results', 311 Institute, 8 December. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/the-future-according-to-google-search-results/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Have you ever wondered what the future holds? Well, people say that Google is the font of all knowledge, so back in 2012 a collection of individuals put the world's favourite search engine to the test and used a number of key search terms to try to figure out what the future would hold - the future according to almighty Google and here are their results. As I think you'll agree the insights are incredible, daring, provocative and, well, downright weird, which leaves us then with an even bigger question - is Google fallible, or are humans just crazy? I'll let you decide.
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Why does this matter?
Lots of people want to know what the future holds and Google, it has to be said, is most people's go to reference, so is Google good at predicting the future? Well, check it out for yourself.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 8 December 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). The future according to Google search results. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/the-future-according-to-google-search-results/
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