Akinator’s origin is shrouded in mystery and wonder. Since 2007, many have challenged the genie to read their minds and then said in exasperation, “What? How the heck did it know that?!” The talented guessing machine seems too good to be true. Where could it have come from? Well, you may not believe where the Founders say they got their inspiration.
You can read the full fantastical story of their discovery of the genie on Akinator’s website. Yes, even genies have websites these days.
“He wants to discover characters; then we’ll give him what he wants.” — Arnaud, Founder of Akinator.com
Legend says that two Frenchmen were crossing a desert in the Far East when a sparkling object caught their eye. It was an ancient oil lamp uncovered by the sands of time.
After rubbing the lamp three times, a cloud of smoke erupted from it, and there before them floated the magic genie known as Akinator. This persistently playful genie claimed he could guess any real or fictional character by asking a few simple questions. He was so good at it (and so persistently playful) that the men decided to create a website to house the wondrously talented guesswork of Akinator.
Today, millions of people turn to Akinator for a fun and mystical experience. Wherever it came from, this shrewd (and sometimes smug) genie takes the game of 20 Questions to a whole new level.