The Peter McCormack Show #137 - Larry Sanger - Will AI Replace Wikipedia?
Dec 29, 2025
Larry Sanger, co-founder of Wikipedia and a philosopher, critiques the encyclopedia's governance and challenges in retaining neutrality. He reveals how anonymous editors and activist influences distorted its original vision. Sanger debates AI's potential to replace Wikipedia, asserting that while AIs might operationalize neutrality better, they can't fully replicate scholarly depth. He suggests Wikipedia may need a reboot and advocates for a diverse 'encyclosphere' with multiple sources to combat bias and enhance information integrity.
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Origins Shaped Long-Term Dynamics
- Wikipedia began as a volunteer project feeding a vetted Newpedia and gained rapid growth through open wiki mechanics.
- Larry Sanger says early decisions (no expert vetting) set the path that shaped Wikipedia's strengths and weaknesses.
Rejected Peer Review Had Consequences
- Sanger proposed expert peer review early but the wiki culture rejected it as threatening growth.
- He believes lack of rigorous peer review left Wikipedia unable to meet academic standards on serious topics.
Anonymous Oligarchy Controls Editing
- Most editorial power is held by a small set of accounts, largely anonymous, who can ban and restrict editors.
- Sanger warns anonymity at leadership levels hides agendas and enables capture.