This Map Shows the Extent of the Entire Internet in 1973
Before the modern internet, there was ARPANET.
ARPANET was the first internet-like network, and it was developed to allow multiple computers to share data across vast geographical distances. Interestingly, the researchers that worked on ARPANET are credited with developing many of the communication protocols that the internet still uses today.
Today’s map comes from David Newbury, who shared a keepsake from his father’s time as a computer science business manager at Carnegie Mellon University in the 1970s. We added a legend to help explain the symbols on the map.
A Brief History of ARPANET
ARPANET was funded in the late 1960s by a branch of the U.S. Military called The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), with the original purpose being to allow researchers at different universities to use their limited computing resources more efficiently.
Before ARPANET, if a researcher at Harvard wanted to access a database at Stanford, they had to travel there and use it in person. ARPANET was used to test out a new communication technology known as packet-switching, which broke up data into smaller “packets” and allowed various computers on the network to access the data.
With ARPANET researchers could:
- Login to another computer miles away
- Transfer and save files across the network
- Send emails from one person to several others
On the map above, you can see the network only had computers in the United States, but later that same year, a satellite link connected the ARPANET to Norway, creating the beginnings of a global network.
A Network of Networks
In 1983, ARPANET adopted the TCP/IP protocol standards which paved the way for a “network of networks”, and the internet was born. Several years later, ARPANET would be decommissioned and the new internet would begin to flourish.
Below you can see what the early internet looked like in 1984:
A Big Jump
These maps take us back to a simpler time when social networks, mobile phones, and unlimited access to the world’s information did not yet exist. Even 12 years after the first message was transmitted on the ARPANET, there were still only 213 computers on the network.
Fast forward a few decades later and the change in scale is mind-boggling – the modern internet has 1.94 billion websites and 4.1 billion internet users globally, resembling a digital universe.
One can only imagine how quaint the ARPANET will look a few more decades from now.
An earlier version of this article said the ARPANET was first connected internationally to the United Kingdom, but in fact, it was with Norway.
Technology
Charted: Amazon Is Hiring Robots While Cutting Human Jobs
Amazon robots hit one million as record layoffs sweep the company. We show the rapid growth in Amazon’s robot fleet since 2013.
Published
5 days ago
on
January 29, 2026
Visualizing Amazon Robots vs. Employees (2013-2025)
See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon has one million robots working in its facilities, a number that is fast-approaching its global employee headcount of almost 1.6 million.
- Recently, Amazon laid off 16,000 corporate employees, following 14,000 job cuts seen in October.
Amazon, America’s second-biggest private employer, is deploying robots at rapid speed.
Over the past five years, the number of robot workers has increased from 265,000 to one million, far outpacing hiring growth. Overall, the company reports that three-quarters of global deliveries are aided by robotics, from lifting and loading to sorting packages.
This graphic compares the size of Amazon’s robot fleet with its human workforce, based on data from Ark Invest via Jason Calacanis and Yahoo Finance.
Amazon Robots Hit One Million
Below, we show the global number of robots deployed at Amazon since 2013:
| Year | Number of Robots | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,000,000 | 1,556,000 |
| 2024 | 750,000 | 1,525,000 |
| 2023 | 750,000 | 1,541,000 |
| 2022 | 520,000 | 1,608,000 |
| 2021 | 350,000 | 1,298,000 |
| 2020 | 265,000 | 798,000 |
| 2019 | 200,000 | 648,000 |
| 2018 | 140,000 | 566,000 |
| 2017 | 100,000 | 341,000 |
| 2016 | 45,000 | 231,000 |
| 2015 | 30,000 | 154,000 |
| 2014 | 15,000 | 117,000 |
| 2013 | 1,000 | 88,000 |
Between 2024 and 2025, the number of robots in Amazon facilities grew by 250,000 alone, with many picking up items from shelves or ferrying goods for packaging.
Some robots have electronic arms, utilizing computer vision to complete tasks. Using a new generative AI model called DeepFleet, robot travel time has dropped by 10%, further boosting efficiency.
Amazon is also reportedly test-running humanoid robots in San Francisco for doorstep delivery.
Last year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated that the company will need less employees given automation and advancements in AI. While some employees have transitioned into higher-paying roles to manage robotic systems, many others could face a more uncertain future.
Amazon Announces Sweeping Corporate Layoffs
In January 2026, Amazon shed 16,000 corporate employees, tacking on to the 14,000 laid off in October last year.
Together, these represent the company’s biggest wave of corporate layoffs. During the pandemic, employee headcount swelled as deliveries boomed. Now, Amazon says it’s cutting back to reduce bureaucracy and streamline operations.
While the company did not cite AI as a reason behind these cuts, it is spending billions on AI infrastructure, from data centers to custom chips, investment that often comes with pressure to cut costs elsewhere.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on U.S. job cuts by industry in 2025.
Digital Transformation
Mapped: U.S. Cities With the Most Remote Workers
Frisco, Texas ranks first, with 34% of its workforce working remotely.
Published
6 days ago
on
January 28, 2026
Mapped: U.S. Cities With the Most Remote Workers
See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- Frisco, Texas, has the highest share of remote workers among large U.S. cities, at 34%.
- Many of the top-ranked cities are affluent suburbs or tech hubs well above the U.S. average of 15%.
While the national average share of remote workers sits at 15%, some cities far exceed that level.
This map ranks U.S. cities by the share of workers who work remotely, revealing where work-from-home arrangements are still common. The data for this visualization comes from SmartAsset.
Suburban Texas Cities Top the List
Frisco, Texas ranks first, with 34% of its workforce working remotely. Located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area, Frisco benefits from proximity to major corporate employers such as Toyota, American Airlines, and AT&T. Many residents work in high-paying professional and technology roles that are well-suited to remote or hybrid work.
| Rank | City | Remote workers (%) | Total remote workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frisco, Texas | 34% | 42K |
| 2 | Berkeley, California | 32% | 18K |
| 3 | Cary, North Carolina | 31% | 29K |
| 4 | Boulder, Colorado | 30% | 17K |
| 5 | Scottsdale, Arizona | 28% | 36K |
| 6 | Arlington, Virginia | 27% | 39K |
| 7 | McKinney, Texas | 27% | 33K |
| 8 | Fishers, Indiana | 27% | 15K |
| 9 | Boca Raton, Florida | 26% | 14K |
| 10 | Carlsbad, California | 26% | 14K |
| 11 | Atlanta, Georgia | 26% | 74K |
| 12 | Naperville, Illinois | 26% | 20K |
| 13 | Allen, Texas | 26% | 16K |
| 14 | Sandy Springs, Georgia | 25% | 16K |
| 15 | Pasadena, California | 25% | 18K |
| 16 | Charlotte, North Carolina | 25% | 130K |
| 17 | Austin, Texas | 25% | 148K |
| 18 | Denver, Colorado | 25% | 106K |
| 19 | Alexandria, Virginia | 25% | 25K |
| 20 | Portland, Oregon | 25% | 89K |
Other Texas cities also rank highly, including McKinney, Allen, and Austin. These cities combine strong job markets with newer housing stock and family-friendly suburbs, making them attractive destinations for remote professionals.
College Towns and Tech Hubs Stand Out
Several college towns and tech-focused cities appear near the top of the ranking. Berkeley, California and Boulder, Colorado both have remote work shares above 30%. These cities have highly educated populations and strong ties to technology, research, and professional services.
Cities like Cary, North Carolina and Naperville, Illinois also stand out as affluent suburbs with large numbers of knowledge workers. In these places, remote work is often an extension of pre-existing white-collar employment patterns.
Big Cities Still Matter
Large metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Austin, Denver, and Portland also appear in the top 20. While their remote work shares are lower than those of leading smaller cities on the list, they account for far more remote workers in absolute terms. For example, Austin and Charlotte each have well over 100,000 remote workers.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Distribution of Income in America (2024 vs 1974) on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.