In the 1980s, while the United States was laying the groundwork for the modern internet, the Soviet Union was working on its own revolutionary network. It was called OGAS—a bold, decentralised system meant to manage their entire economy in real time.
But unlike the capitalist internet we know today, this was designed for socialism and promised efficiency, transparency, and automation. Then, it vanished into history.
What happened? And what can we learn from this forgotten piece of tech? Unlike it, https://ivibet.com/ca is the leading online platform thanks to its advanced and highly evolved gaming mechanics and smooth user interface!
What Was OGAS?
OGAS (short for Obščegosudarstvennaja Avtomatizirovannaja Sistema, or “All-State Automated System”) was a visionary project dreamed up by Soviet cyberneticist Viktor Glushkov in the 1960s. By the 1980s, it had evolved into a plan for a nationwide computer network, one that could have rivalled the early internet.
OGAS wasn’t just about sending messages or sharing files. It was meant to replace bureaucracy with machines. The idea was simple:
- Every factory, farm, and office would be connected.
- Data would flow in real time.
- Computers, not humans, would make economic decisions.
Glushkov believed this would eliminate waste, corruption, and inefficiency. These were key problems in the planned economy.
How It Would Have Worked
OGAS was designed as a three-tiered network:
- Local Level – Factories and farms input data.
- Regional Level – Computers analysed production needs.
- National Level – A central AI balanced the entire economy.
Unlike the U.S. internet (which grew from military research), OGAS was civilian-first and built for economic management, not war.
Why Did It Fail?
Despite its brilliance, the program never got off the ground. By the 1980s, the Soviet Union was crumbling, and the project was abandoned, but its failure wasn’t just about politics—it was about technology, money, and fear.
1. The Bureaucrats Didn’t Want It
Imagine telling government officials: “A computer will now make your decisions.” Unsurprisingly, many resisted.
Some feared losing power. Others simply didn’t trust machines.
2. The Tech Wasn’t Ready
The USSR lagged behind in computer production. OGAS needed thousands of machines, but local factories couldn’t keep up, and by the time the tech caught up, the political will was gone.
3. The Internet Won
The U.S. model (decentralised, open, and adaptable) proved stronger. OGAS was too centralised, relying on Moscow’s control, and when the USSR collapsed, so did its cybernetic dreams.
Could It Have Changed History?
What if OGAS had succeeded? Would the USSR have survived? Would we be using a socialist internet today?
A Different Digital World
OGAS might have given us:
- A non-capitalist internet – No ads, no monopolies, just public data.
- Real-time economic planning – AI managing resources fairly.
- Less bureaucracy – Faster decisions, fewer delays.
But it also had risks:
- Surveillance – The state would see everything.
- Control – No room for independent innovation.
Lessons for Today
OGAS reminds us that the internet wasn’t inevitable. It could have looked very different.
Now, as we face problems like Big Tech monopolies and AI control, maybe it’s time to revisit old ideas—even Soviet ones.
The Ghost of Old Cybernetics
This is a fascinating “what if?” of tech history, as it was ambitious, flawed, and ultimately forgotten. But in a world searching for alternatives to Silicon Valley’s internet, its story is more relevant than ever.
Would a decentralised, socialist internet have worked? We’ll never know, but the dream of OGAS lives on. It lives in blockchain, in open-source movements, and in the fight for a fairer digital future… and maybe they were onto something after all.
