Wikipedia Faces Greater Existential Threats as it Celebrates 25 Years Online
As Wikipedia turns 25, it confronts serious threats and claims of bias from both sides of the political spectrum.
The website is also battling issues with AI bots that take its information and strain its servers. Many of its helpers, or volunteers, are getting older, making it hard to keep the community fresh and active. Wikipedia wants to stay neutral and helpful, but some feel these ideals are fading in today’s divisive world.
Bernadette Meehan, the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, will try to lead Wikipedia through these problems. She has skills in diplomacy and negotiation, which can help. However, challenges remain. The UK wants to set age restrictions on Wikipedia, and in Saudi Arabia, some editors have faced prison for sharing information about human rights.
Many long-time Wikipedia helpers feel worried. One editor, Christopher Henner, thinks it might turn into a quiet place where no one pays attention. Furthermore, there’s a debate about the role of human work when AI is on the rise. Even though many AI systems use Wikipedia’s information, human-produced knowledge is still very important.