Publication Date: 12.11.2025
Overview
- Author: Lucien Scherrer
- Source: https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/kann-ihn-nicht-ernst-nehmen-wikipedia-gruender-jimmy-wales-teilt-gegen-elon-musk-aus-ld.1911445
- Date: 12.11.2025
- Reading Time: 5 minutes
Brief Summary
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales remains optimistic about his online encyclopedia despite growing criticism. While Elon Musk launches "Grokipedia," an AI-powered alternative, and criticizes the platform as "Wokipedia," Wikipedia simultaneously struggles with ideological activism within its own ranks. Wales' neutrality principle is under pressure - both externally through political attacks and internally through biased representations of controversial topics.
Three Key Questions
- How can Wikipedia maintain its neutrality and credibility when activist users present controversial judgments as facts?
- What responsibility does the platform bear for opinion formation when it influences 18 billion monthly page views and shapes AI systems?
- Can transparency about ideological biases strengthen trust, or are structural reforms of Wikipedia governance needed?
Looking to the Future
- Short-term (1 year): Increased competition from AI-based encyclopedias and growing political attacks on Wikipedia
- Medium-term (5 years): Possible split into regionally/ideologically influenced Wikipedia versions; intensified neutrality conflicts
- Long-term (10-20 years): Fundamental reorganization of knowledge dissemination between human and AI-generated content
Article Summary
What is it about? Jimmy Wales promotes his new book during a Zurich visit and defends Wikipedia against growing criticism. The platform is under pressure from external competition and internal neutrality problems.
Important Facts:
- Wikipedia is among the 5 most visited websites worldwide
- 65 million articles available in 320 languages
- 280,000 volunteer contributors work monthly
- 18 billion page views per month
- Elon Musk has launched "Grokipedia" as a conservative alternative
- Wales had to temporarily lock Gaza genocide article [⚠️ Still to be verified: current status]
- French media protested against ideological labeling
Affected Groups: Wikipedia users worldwide, educational institutions, journalists, AI developers, political actors of all orientations
Opportunities & Risks:
- Opportunities: Multilingual comparison for quality control, resistance against authoritarian censorship
- Risks: Loss of credibility through activism, fragmentation of knowledge landscape, AI competition
Recommendations: Critical approach to Wikipedia content, comparison of different language versions, awareness of possible ideological biases
Fact Check
The basic Wikipedia data is verifiable. Wales' statements about Musk's billion-dollar offer and the "Dickipedia" renaming [⚠️ Still to be verified]. The existence of controversial articles about the Gaza war and ideological conflicts are documented.
Additional Sources
For a complete assessment, additional sources on Wikipedia governance, Musk's Grokipedia project, and scientific studies on Wikipedia quality should be consulted.
Source List
- Original Source: «Kann ihn nicht ernst nehmen» – Wikipedia-Gründer Jimmy Wales teilt gegen Elon Musk aus, NZZ, https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/kann-ihn-nicht-ernst-nehmen-wikipedia-gruender-jimmy-wales-teilt-gegen-elon-musk-aus-ld.1911445
- Facts checked: on 12.11.2025