Slate Daily Feed What Next | Wikipedia Enters the Culture Wars
Nov 13, 2025
In this discussion, Stephen Harrison, a writer and tech lawyer specializing in online information, dives into the recent controversy surrounding Elon Musk's Grokipedia. He argues that Grokipedia is a flawed attempt to control narratives, dubbed 'Wokipedia' by Musk. Harrison also highlights the historical reliability of Wikipedia, the dangers its editors face, and rising threats to information freedom worldwide. He further contrasts Wikipedia's collaborative spirit with the risks posed by AI-generated content, painting a vivid picture of the ongoing culture wars over knowledge.
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AI Encyclopedia Hallucinates And Self-Authors
- Grokipedia shows persistent AI hallucinations and biased framing when describing figures like Elon Musk.
- Stephen Harrison warns the AI presents self-authored narratives without Wikipedia's third-party checks.
New Site Aims To Erode Trust In Institutions
- Harrison sees Grokipedia as an attempt to capitalize on Wikipedia's open license and public trust.
- He frames it as part of a broader right-wing effort to delegitimize traditional institutions and push alternate narratives.
Volunteers Subdue Armed Intruder At Conference
- At a Wikimedia keynote a man with a gun interrupted and claimed to be a minor-attracted person; volunteers physically subdued him.
- Harrison used the incident to illustrate real, immediate dangers Wikipedia volunteers can face.
