Background Briefing Long Read | Can Wikipedia survive the rise of AI and Trump?
Jun 6, 2025
Rhiannon Stevens, a Features reporter at the ABC, dives into the precarious future of Wikipedia. She discusses how AI technologies threaten the platform’s integrity and the impact of political dynamics, particularly under Trump's influence. The conversation highlights the fight against misinformation and the crucial role of individual contributors in maintaining the site's reliability. Stevens paints a vivid picture of Wikipedia at a crucial crossroads, raising essential questions about truth in the digital age.
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Premeditated Chaos' Wikipedia Passion
- A woman known as Premeditated Chaos contributes to Wikipedia out of love and passion, not expertise or pay.
- Her voluntary work exemplifies how Wikipedia is built by everyday people immersed in research and writing for joy.
Wikipedia at a Crossroads
- Wikipedia's open, crowd-edited model is foundational but now challenged by AI and political critics.
- The rise of AI chatbots, which source data partly from Wikipedia, might jeopardize its role as an independent knowledge base.
Elon Musk's Wikipedia Critique
- Elon Musk criticizes Wikipedia as biased and proposes defunding it to force change.
- His public attacks highlight tensions between influential figures and Wikipedia's open editorial model.
