The "Rise of Smart TVs and Streaming" (Episode: "The Springfield Connection", 1997)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "Rise of Smart TVs and Streaming" (Episode: "The Springfield Connection", 1997)

• What happened: The episode hints at a future where people can easily access entertainment through their TVs, streaming content directly.
• Reality: By the 2010s, smart TVs became commonplace, allowing people to stream content from platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube directly on their TVs without the need for external devices like cable boxes.