Tech leaders are often treated like visionaries, but even the smartest executives can make predictions that age badly. From dismissing major innovations to making strange public comments, these quotes show how difficult it is to predict the future. Here are some memorable moments when tech CEOs were completely convinced they were right.
#1: Steve Ballmer Says the iPhone Won’t Matter
When Apple released the iPhone (2007), Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer argued it had no chance of gaining significant market share. At the time, BlackBerry and Nokia dominated mobile phones. The prediction aged poorly as the iPhone transformed the smartphone industry and became one of the world’s most successful products.
