Exploring the Early Days of the Internet and Technological Developments

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The chapter delves into the origins of the internet in 1989, focusing on the highly technical and scientific individuals mainly from the US and Europe who formed the early online community. It highlights key moments in internet history, such as the development of a decentralized peer-to-peer network in the late 60s and the skepticism faced by the internet's feasibility. The chapter also discusses the evolution of internet services, the challenges faced by the Defense Department during the Cold War era, and the development of tools like FTP, computer graphics, and VR technology.

Welcome back to "The Ben & Marc Show," featuring a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz.

In this special episode, Marc and Ben dive deep into the REAL story behind the creation of Netscape—a web browser co-created by Marc that revolutionized the internet and changed the world. As Ben notes at the top, until today, this story has never been fully told either in its entirety or accurately.

In this one-on-one conversation, Marc and Ben discuss Marc's early life and how it shaped his journey into technology, the pivotal moments at the University of Illinois that led to the development of Mosaic (a renegade browser that Marc developed as an undergrad), and the fierce competition and legal battles that ensued as Netscape rose to prominence.

Ben and Marc also reflect on the broader implications of Netscape's success, the importance of an open internet, and the lessons learned that still resonate in today's tech landscape (especially with AI). That and much more. Enjoy!

Book mentioned on this episode:

- “Expert Political Judgment” by Philip E. Tetlock https://bit.ly/45KzP6M

TV Series mentioned on this episode:

- “The Mandalorian” (Disney+) https://bit.ly/3W0Zyoq

Watch the FULL Episode on YouTune: https://youtu.be/8aTjA_bGZO4

Resources:

Marc on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca

Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/

Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz

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