The news that America Online (AOL) is set to end its Dial-up service next month has generated two online responses. First: Amazement that AOL Dial-up is still operational. Second: A wave of nostalgia for the 1990s, from the dial-up tones to the movie “You’ve Got Mail,” the CDs, and the CompuServe homepage, which still presents news today in a low-image format.

Nevertheless, there’s a response that is absent, one that is disconnected from AOL’s narrative of rise and decline. AOL was not characterized by dial-up but by the innovations it introduced. AOL is not merely a nostalgic chapter in technology; in many respects, it represents our current reality. The features it introduced continue to be integral to our technological experiences in 2025.

AOL was unfortunately positioned in the CD age and did not transition into the smartphone era. Had it maintained its aggressive acquisition strategy, AOL could have been part of the FAANG conglomerate, the tech titans of today. Consider:

1. AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) effectively combined the elements of Messenger, WhatsApp, and Slack. AIM transformed Instant Messaging into an enjoyable and user-friendly experience, a format still prevalent in apps such as WhatsApp and WeChat. It included buddy lists, group messaging, emoticons, multimedia messaging, and file-sharing. AIM’s Away status foreshadowed Slack’s status updates. AIM was extensively used, including on Wall Street, serving both professional and leisure purposes. It was accessible and open enough to allow communication with MSN Messenger users, reaching 61 million users at its peak in 2001.

2. SmarterChild was an early AI chatbot on AIM, created by ActiveBuddy. Within six months, it appeared on 30 million Buddy lists. SmarterChild could access extensive databases and engage in discussions on various subjects. It was recognized for its cheeky replies, a lesson modern AIs might take note of.

3. AOL Chat Rooms served as a precursor to Twitter, enabling users to converse with strangers. Usage surged when AOL adopted a monthly billing model. Chat Rooms often became toxic spaces, rife with anonymous insults and inappropriate behavior. Moderation was scarce, depending on volunteers.

4. Usenet resembled Reddit. AOL was the first to provide Usenet access in 1993, resulting in a surge of new users. This marked the inception of Reddit and other message boards. AOL Chat, hosted on AIM, functioned as a moderated Q&A akin to a Reddit AMA.

AOL also introduced other innovations like AOL Hometown for creating websites and an extensive data center infrastructure in Virginia, now referred to as Data Center Alley. The next time you appreciate a fast-loading site, remember the pioneers of dial-up.