Y2K Problem: A Predicted Crisis That Was Averted

The podcast episode explores the Y2K problem, which refers to the potential computer failures that experts predicted as the year 2000 approached. The episode highlights the anticipation and preparations that were made to address the problem, including the massive mobilization of government and industry spending billions of dollars on fixing and updating software systems. It explores the three theories surrounding the Y2K panic, including international grift by the software consulting industry, cultural hysteria, and the lack of recognition for averted disasters. The episode emphasizes the importance of computer literacy and the role of software engineers in averting crises, while also reflecting on the lessons learned from the Y2K episode.