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Wikipedia Co-founder Slams 'Grokepedia' as Unrealistic AI Idea

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales has dismissed the concept of an AI-driven 'Grokepedia' as unrealistic, stating there is no competition with Wikipedia's human-led model. He criticized AI platforms for failing to ethically credit original information sources. Wales revealed Wikipedia has experienced an 8% drop in human traffic, calling it a disaster linked to changing user behavior. He highlighted India's strong potential in the AI era due to its IT ecosystem while cautioning about unpredictable job market changes.

Key Points: Wikipedia Co-founder Criticizes AI 'Grokepedia' at Summit

  • AI cannot replicate Wikipedia's human collaboration
  • AI fails to properly credit sources
  • Wikipedia sees 8% human traffic decline
  • India well-positioned for AI benefits
  • AI will change job landscape
2 min read

Grokepedia an unrealistic idea that won't work: Wikipedia Co-founder at AI Summit

Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales dismisses AI-driven 'Grokepedia,' stresses human collaboration and ethical sourcing, and discusses AI's impact on traffic and jobs.

"AI systems so far have not performed well when it comes to acknowledging where information comes from. - Jimmy Wales"

New Delhi, Feb 18

Dismissing comparisons between Wikipedia and emerging AI-driven knowledge platforms, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales on Wednesday said the idea of a so-called 'Grokepedia' is unrealistic and there is 'no competition' between Wikipedia and such experiments.

Speaking during a session at the India AI Impact Summit here, Wales made it clear that attempts to replicate Wikipedia through artificial intelligence tools misunderstand how the platform works.

He stressed that Wikipedia is built on human collaboration, transparency and verifiable sources, which cannot simply be replaced by automated systems.

Wales also raised concerns about artificial intelligence platforms failing to give proper credit to original sources.

He said that providing attribution is not just a technical issue but an ethical responsibility in the digital age.

"AI systems so far have not performed well when it comes to acknowledging where information comes from," Wales stated.

At the same time, he acknowledged that the way people access and consume information is rapidly changing.

Wales revealed that Wikipedia has seen an 8 per cent decline in human traffic. He described the drop as "a disaster," but added that it reflects a broader transformation in online behaviour, where users increasingly rely on AI tools and instant summaries instead of directly visiting websites.

Despite these challenges, Wales said India is especially well positioned to benefit from the rise of artificial intelligence.

He pointed to the country's strong IT ecosystem and large pool of skilled technology professionals as key advantages in the AI era.

On the issue of jobs and automation, Wales said artificial intelligence will make certain skills more valuable because people will be able to complete tasks faster and more efficiently.

However, he cautioned that the world is currently going through a period of "great flux and great change." While some professions may decline, he said it is difficult to predict exactly which ones will be most affected.

Wales, an American internet entrepreneur and former financial trader, is best known for co-founding Wikipedia, the world's largest free online encyclopedia, as well as Fandom, a for-profit wiki hosting service.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Aman W
Interesting point about India's position in AI. We have the talent pool, but we also need to build our own ethical frameworks for these tools. Can't just follow what the West does. 🇮🇳
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Rohit P
The 8% traffic drop is worrying. I see it with my own kids - they ask ChatGPT for summaries instead of reading a full article. Convenience is winning over depth. We're losing something important.
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Sarah B
While I respect Mr. Wales, I think he might be underestimating how fast AI is improving. The attribution issue is serious, but it's a solvable technical challenge. The world is changing, and platforms must adapt.
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Karthik V
As a software engineer, I agree AI can't replace human collaboration for something like an encyclopedia. But Wikipedia's interface feels outdated. Maybe they need to integrate some AI tools to help editors and improve user experience, not replace them.
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Nisha Z
The job point is crucial for India. We have so many young people entering the workforce. We need to focus on skills that AI complements, not replaces. Critical thinking and ethics will be more valuable than ever.

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