When Matt Groening created Futurama in 1999, he probably didn't imagine how prophetic his sci-fi universe would become. Or yes? Ringing the Simpsons memes. After a quarter of a century, many of the technologies presented in the animated series have passed from the screen to reality, demonstrating the surprising predictive power of science fiction.
A bit like the Jetsons, Futurama has also always navigated the fine line between satire and prescience. But who would have imagined that some of his most bizarre inventions would become reality in such a short time? Let's take a dive into the future-present, exploring the technologies of this cartoon that now really exist.
Suicide Booths: From Black Humor to Controversial Reality
In the first episode of Futurama, Fry e Bender they meet in line for a “suicide booth”. A macabre concept that at the time seemed pure satire. Nevertheless…
Il Sarco Pod, developed by Dr. Philip Nitschke, seems to have come straight from that scene. This high-tech capsule, which resembles a cross between a single-seat spacecraft and a futuristic coffin, offers a method of assisted euthanasia by filling it with nitrogen and depriving the occupant of oxygen.
With a development cost of more than $700.000, the Sarco Pod was expected to debut in Switzerland in July 2024. However, legal and ethical disputes temporarily blocked the project, raising profound questions about the line between medical innovation and ethics.
Sex Robots: when robosexuality becomes reality
Futurama introduced many viewers to the concept of “robosexuality.” Relationships between humans and robots, like the one between Bender and Amy or Fry and Lucy Liu's robot, seemed like a futuristic joke. Today, “sex bots” are a rapidly evolving reality.
Companies like Realbotix they are pushing the boundaries of this technology. Their Harmony 3.0 model, launched in 2017, boasts surprisingly advanced features, including artificial intelligence that allows it to learn the owner's preferences.
Of course, we are still far from the sophisticated robots of Futurama: but the industry predicts that sex robots will become increasingly indistinguishable from human partners. This evolution raises complex ethical and social questions about the nature of relationships and intimacy in the digital age.
Instant translators: breaking down language barriers
The “Universal Translator” of Professor Farnsworth, which ironically translated everything into French, is echoed in several real-world devices today. Google has integrated the function into its Pixel smartphones live translate, capable of translating spoken conversations in real time.
The X1's Timekettles and the “translator pen” of before morning are examples of how technology is rapidly closing the language gap. These devices not only translate speech, but some can also scan and translate written text.
While we're not yet at the level of instant, perfect translation displayed in Futurama, the direction is clear: in the not-too-distant future, language barriers will be a thing of the past.
Delivery Ships: SpaceX realizes the dream of Planet Express
The iconic green ship of Planet Express in Futurama he delivered packages across the galaxy. Today, SpaceX by Elon Musk is making this concept real with Starship.
This rocket, the most powerful ever built on Earth, is designed to carry crew and cargo not only to Earth orbit, but also to the Moon and, potentially, Mars. With the mission Artemis 3 scheduled (perhaps) for 2026, Starship could soon bring astronauts to the lunar surface.
Intergalactic deliveries remain a distant dream, but Starship represents a giant step towards realizing that futuristic vision of Futurama.
Implanted chips: when technology gets under the skin
In Futurama, citizens received an implanted chip to determine their career. In the reality of 2024, a growing community of “biohackers” is experimenting with voluntary subdermal implants.
These microchips, about the size of a grain of rice, are used for a variety of purposes: from paying for transportation to opening doors to performing magic tricks. The professor kevin warwick he was among the pioneers of this technology, receiving his first implant even a year before the debut of Futurama.
While these implants are still niche and do not determine people's careers, they raise important questions about privacy and the future of human-technology interaction. And I didn't mention Neuralink and brain-computer interfaces.
Flying cars: the dream of futuristic mobility comes true
If Futurama's transport tubes remain pure science fiction, flying vehicles are becoming reality. Companies like Alef Aeronautics e Small vision they are developing flying cars that could revolutionize urban transportation.
The AirCar by Klein Vision, for example, can transform from car to plane in less than three minutes and is already certified to fly in Slovakia. These vehicles promise to take advantage of urban airspace to drastically reduce travel times.
Ok, we're still far from the mass air traffic seen in Futurama, these developments suggest that the future of urban mobility may be closer to the sky than we think.
Futurama: 1000 Years in the Future lasted only a quarter of a century
Many of Futurama's more extreme technologies remain in the realm of fantasy (such as heads stored in jars, or not?), but it is surprising to see how many “prophecies” of the series have come true, at least in part.
It's the power of science fiction: it entertains, but above all it inspires. As Lou would say, “Goodbye and happy future!”
