The history of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a narrative of waves, rising optimism followed by crashing disappointments. This paper argues that such a perspective overlooks a crucial wave of AI that seems to be forgotten: the rise of the Semantic Web, which is based on knowledge representation, logic, and reasoning, and its interplay with intelligent Software Agents. The Semantic Web aimed to transform the WWW into an ecosystem where AI could reason, understand, and act but is seldom mentioned in the context of AI after ChatGPT and Large Language Models (LLM) reignited the AI enthusiasm of today. By analyzing its academic impact through bibliometric data, we highlight the Semantic Web’s role in AI history and its untapped potential for modern Software Agent development. This analysis not only deepens our understanding of AI’s cyclical evolution but also offers key insights for integrating emerging technologies.