In the 1988 section of the film, Apple CEO John Sculley (Jeff Daniels) tells Steve (Michael Fassbender) that he was asked to speak to the difficult Steve because Sculley is perceived to be the "Steve Whisperer". This is a one of many references in pop culture to The Horse Whisperer. But that novel didn't come out until 1995, and the film based on it (which was probably a greater influence on the word "whisperer" being adopted as a metaphor for anyone with an affinity or talent for something) didn't come out until 1998--ten years after this scene is set.

that's the problem. When you are used to something, it's hard to remember when it last changed. I remember a high school class where we were covering Ancient Rome and the class consensus on the question of what awoke a Roman statesman from their sleep was... the telephone.