The Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi on Monday stated that it has formed a fact-finding committee after a row erupted online about the speakers and content of a conference on caste and race organised by the college's Department of Humanities and Social Sciences earlier this month
2026 Renault Duster vs old Duster: The 2026 Duster has a more modern and bold appearance than the older model. It keeps the rugged SUV identity Renault is known for, but the design is sharper and more muscular. 2026 Renault Duster vs old Duster: Renault has officially unveiled the 2026 Renault
Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday targeted the Centre over the seating of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in the third row during the 77th Republic Day celebrations held in the national capital on Monday
The Madras High Court has overturned a previous order. This order had directed the immediate release of the censor certificate for the film Jana Nayagan. The court found the single judge acted prematurely. The case will now be reconsidered. This means the film's release faces further delays
Union Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present India Budget 2026 on 1 February, Sunday, marking a significant milestone for the country as she presents her ninth consecutive Budget. This is the first time in recent history that the Union Budget is being presented on a
Wikipedia is not going anywhere, says founder Jimmy Wales as online encyclopaedia completes 25 years
Wikipedia is not going anywhere, says founder Jimmy Wales as online encyclopaedia completes 25 years Premium
In an era shaped by the information economy — where trust is fragile, AI systems generate content at scale, and facts are constantly contested — the role of open, reliable knowledge has never been more critical.
This month, Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopaedia, turned 25. Even as detractors call the platform redundant in the age of AI and large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Gemini, founder Jimmy Wales remains optimistic. “The world is better off with AI reading Wikipedia. Imagine if it trained only on X,” he told a keen audience at the recent Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode, adding that Wikipedia, too, is making use of AI tools to improve the efficiency of its edits.
Discussing his book The Seven Rules of Trust (Bloomsbury), co-authored with Dan Gardner, Mr. Wales reflects on credibility, the importance of human-curated knowledge, and why he believes the online encyclopaedia is here to stay. Edited excerpts:
Do you think there is a deficit of trust in the world today? Or misplaced trust maybe?
Well, those can be kind of the same thing in a way. I always look at the Edelman Trust Barometer survey. This is a survey that's been done since the year 2000, in many countries around the world. And they've seen a steady decline in trust, decline in trust in journalism, in politics, and so forth.
So, there is a decline in trust. But also, one of the side effects of that is, if people truly believe, for example, that all politicians are corrupt and liars, then they still have to choose someone, and so they end up with misplaced trust.
And I think that's a big problem as well.
How do you look back at 25 years of Wikipedia?
It's been really great. The thing that I've always enjoyed is that we are very community-oriented. So, I travel around, and everywhere I go, I try to meet with local Wikipedians. And they're very, very sweet nerds, who love knowledge and love researching and sharing what they've learned. So, a lot of the things that end up in the news about culture wars and politics and all of it, that's not what we are about internally. We are just about… documenting birds and trains and whatever it might be. And that's been such a wonderful journey. And it's been very good to see the response from the public, that people do love Wikipedia and they view it as one of the good things in the world. And that's very satisfying.
During elections or conflicts such as war, concerns about fake news and misinformation often arise. How does Wikipedia address these challenges?
One of the things that we think is very important is journalism. Like serious, proper journalism to get the facts. Obviously, we try to be neutral. But, where neutrality is the hardest is where emotions are very high. So we acknowledge that and we understand that. And so that's always a challenge.
And there are a lot of low-quality information sources, and there is such a thing as fake news. It hasn't impacted Wikipedia very much because we spend our lives debating the quality of our sources. It's hard to fool the Wikipedians with a fake website.
In the age of AI and LLMs, what are some of the big challenges for Wikipedia and open knowledge ecosystems in general?
One of the issues is that AI, much to everyone's surprise, is very bad at facts. I think if you asked anybody 30 years ago, what do you think the first AI that we experience would be like, they would have said it would be very matter-of-fact and very serious and it won't understand humour at all, and it won't be creative at all. It turns out, it's the exact opposite. The humour's not very good, but, it's creative and it's crazy and makes things up and so forth. But that does mean if people start to use AI assuming that it's going to be factually correct, they'll be getting errors and mistakes.
What scares you or concerns you the most about America right now?
Well, like many people, I'm worried about the decline in bipartisanship. You know, recently, we just had the longest shutdown of the government in history because the two sides weren't able to find even the most simple compromises, and that is, in part, a breakdown of trust. If you completely don't trust the other side, then you lose the ability to make a compromise.
I also worry, and I think anybody should be worried right now, about the apparent rise of authoritarianism and political violence. I think it's very scary. You know, we just saw a political assassination — of Charlie Kirk — this is a huge tragedy. Even though I didn't agree with Charlie Kirk's politics, the thing he was quite famous for is going out and discussing with people, and, you know, it's completely tragic and will be used for further violence and that cycle can be so unhealthy. I would like to see us move in a direction of more calm and have leaders who take on the responsibility of behaving respectfully to other people. I don't think Donald Trump is going to do that.
Is there a common misconception about Wikipedia among people?
It's a good question. If you read the news, you'll find that people assume that Wikipedia is some kind of ideological battleground, where we are warring factions. Actually most of the work in Wikipedia is about obscure, sweet subjects that nobody's fighting anything about, and that's really great, and so I think what people don't realise is that we're just this nerdy community with a hobby.
What's next for Wikipedia?
Well, I think the good news is that nothing is going to change radically. People like Wikipedia. We like Wikipedia as it is, so we're going to stay calm, and obviously the culture wars rage all around us, but we'll stick to what we do best.
Obviously, I think one of the things that I'm really positive and excited about is the growth of Wikipedia in the languages of the world. So here in India, we've got, well, 22 languages-plus. There's some minor dialects as well. We've got all these communities working together and working independently. To me, this is very exciting.
Jimmy Wales at the Kerala Literature Festival 2026 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The writer was at the Kerala Literature Festival 2026 on invitation from DC Books.
julie.m.v@thehindu.co.in
Published - January 26, 2026 09:03 pm IST
books and literature / authors and poets / Kerala / Kerala
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Going to eat now Food security is going to become a major global challenge in the coming years Kids Feared I Was Going To Die Cooper Connolly open to batting anywhere for Punjab Kings in maiden IPL season It's all going right for Arsenal' - can they make it count this time We’re Going To Be Running It 5 Ways To Protect Your Avocados From Going Brown & Make Them Last Longer Going To Have A Good Deal Not going to happen Pakistan going through an
Pedro A. Sanchez, a soil scientist, passed away at 85. He revolutionized agriculture in poor nations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Sanchez helped millions of subsistence farmers increase crop yields, combating hunger. His work led to breakthroughs in soil fertility and agricultural
1 minutes ago
Punjab Schools Closed: All government, aided, private and recognised schools in Punjab remained closed on Tuesday, January 27, following a state government announcement made in view of Republic Day. The decision was taken to give students and teachers time to rest after participating in Republic
1 minutes ago
In a major development, the Goa government is currently considering the implementation of an order that would ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and X, according to a report by the Indian Express.In a major development
1 minutes ago
Viral Video of the day: Known by the name The Twinternet, this Riyadh-based influencer put up a video clarifying her roots and comparison with actress Juhi Chawla. Trending video of the day: Internet can be a fun place, especially when netizens find a celebrity lookalike. In a similar incident
1 minutes ago
Aryna Sabalenka, a Belarusian tennis player and world number 1, marked her entry into the Australian Open semifinals on Tuesday, by defeating 18-year-old Iva Jovic of United States. The first runner-up of 2025 Aus Open displayed exceptional technique and skills during her match at Rod Laver amid
1 minutes ago
Technology giant Meta is set to trial premium subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp users in the coming months in its latest experiment with paid services. The new offerings would give access to features including expanded artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities
1 minutes ago
The BCCI on Monday (January 26, 2026) expressed deep sorrow at the demise of its former president Inderjit Singh Bindra and described him as a “visionary administrator” and one of the most “influential architects” of Indian cricket whose legacy will be remembered with deep
Just now
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti has accused the BJP of hypocrisy. She stated that BJP leaders welcome Middle Eastern Sheikhs abroad but remained silent when the shrine of Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah was vandalised. Mufti believes this is a deliberate tactic to distract from issues
Just now
Nagaland Sambad State Lottery Tuesday 27-01-2026 Live Updates: The results of Nagaland State Lottery DEAR GODAVARI MORNING 1 PM, Nagaland DEAR COMET EVENING 6 PM Sambad Result, Nagaland DEAR GOOSE NIGHT 8 PM weekly lottery will be declared today i.e Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026, at 1 PM
Just now
A severe winter storm is inflicting significant economic damage across the U.S., with experts struggling to quantify its multi-billion dollar impact. While some estimates are debated, the disruption to transportation, power grids, and business operations is causing widespread economic fallout
Just now
Attending the ET AI Conclave & Awards 2025 in Bengaluru offers business leaders a critical opportunity to deepen their understanding of how artificial intelligence is being built, adopted, and governed in real time. The event blends strategic insights with peer learning, recognition of excellence
Just now
Border 2 box office collection day 4: Sunny Deol and Varun Dhawan's war drama on a super Republic Day holiday, earned over Rs 59 crore domestically. Border 2 box office collection day 4: Bollywood top gun Sunny Deol's war saga Border 2 has turned out to be a money-spinner at the ticket windows -
Just now
The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) programme will open applications for the 2026 cycle on January 29, offering international students the opportunity to pursue higher education in Ireland with full financial support
Just now
Pakistan may pull out of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The decision is pending after Bangladesh's removal from the tournament. Reports from Islamabad say the decision is linked to growing anger over the ICC's ‘blatant double standards'. According to Geo News
1 minutes ago
India's gold reserves have surged as the US dollar weakens, with central banks increasingly moving away from the greenback amid Trump-era policies and global geopolitical tensions. The RBI is also proposing to link BRICS digital currencies to ease cross-border trade
1 minutes ago
The European Union and India are set to announce a landmark trade deal after nearly two decades of on-off talks, as both sides aim to deepen ties amid tensions with the US. India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said on Monday that negotiations had been wrapped up and the deal finalised
1 minutes ago
Something has quietly changed in the way India eats. The conversation around food is no longer just about taste, price, or convenience, it's about what's real. Shoppers are reading labels, questioning sourcing, and looking for foods that feel closer to nature. Clean nutrition
1 minutes ago
The rupee rebounded from its all-time low levels and gained 10 paise to trade at 91.80 against the U.S. dollar in early deals on Tuesday (January 27, 2026), as the dollar index retreated from its elevated levels. Forex traders said the rupee recovered marginally as traders rushed to cover broad
Just now
India told the UN Security Council that the Pakistani military directly pleaded for a halt to Operation Sindoor, dismissing claims of external intervention. The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure following the Pahalgam attack, with India emphasising measured
Just now
Kashmir experienced fresh snowfall, blanketing the valley in white. This led to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and significant disruption to flight operations at Srinagar airport. Rail services were also affected. Tourist destinations transformed into winter wonderlands
1 minutes ago
The BJP has alleged that supporters of the ruling TMC in West Bengal attempted to set afire a puja pandal hosting an idol of ‘Bharat Mata' at Khardah Assembly constituency on the northern outskirts of Kolkata. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar visited the area on Monday (January 27
1 minutes ago
China's medicine regulator has ordered a halt to the import, sale and usage of a drug used to treat dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease made by India's Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, according to an announcement posted on Monday (January 26, 2026)
1 minutes ago
MCX gold February futures rose 1.48 per cent to Rs 1,58,343 per 10 grams. Meanwhile, MCX silver March futures rose 6.56 per cent to Rs 3,56,670 per kg. Mumbai: Gold and silver prices surged to record highs on Tuesday, amid persistent weakness in the US dollar and expectations of rate cuts by the US
1 minutes ago
Aryna Sabalenka says her mentality is "trophy or nothing" as she maintained her pursuit of a third Australian Open title in four years with a dominant quarter-final victory over teenager Iva Jovic. World number one Sabalenka overpowered rising American star Jovic 6-3 6-0 and awaits either third
1 minutes ago
A provision of the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, notified by the UGC on January 13 to prevent caste discrimination in higher education, has been challenged in the Supreme Court. A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed against this regulation
1 minutes ago
NEW DELHI, Jan 27 (Reuters) - India and the European Union have finalised a landmark trade deal that will represent a quarter of the world's economy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, as the two sides seek to hedge against fickle ties with the U.S.NEW DELHI
1 minutes ago
In an era shaped by the information economy — where trust is fragile, AI systems generate content at scale, and facts are constantly contested — the role of open, reliable knowledge has never been more critical. This month, Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopaedia, turned 25
1 minutes ago
