This paper is a part of a broader study into the possible implications of the existing bias in data found on the Internet and the influence of this data when using Generative AI (Gen AI). The current paper can be seen as part one and explores the historical development of the internet, emphasizing its public and social roots often overlooked in mainstream narratives. The internet's origins and evolution have profoundly shaped contemporary society, creating what is now referred to the information or network society.However, the standard narrative of the development of the internet and technologies often overlooks its public and social foundations. This paper examines the internet's history, it discusses key milestones of the creation of the World Wide Web, and the shift from a communal space to one dominated by platform capitalism. The paper advocates for reclaiming public values through a “public stack” that prioritizes citizen engagement, open technology, and shared resources. Furthermore, it explores the possible opportunities and pitfalls of the development of AI developments and its (ethical) implications for the internet, our primary source of information.

Keywords: Internet, data, Gen AI.