Twenty Five Years In, Wikipedia Faces an AI Future Built on Human Trust

Wikipedia, the world’s largest online encyclopaedia and one of the most visited websites globally, marks its 25th anniversary today.

They’re launching a new global campaign highlighting the human power behind the world’s most used knowledge platform, Africa’s rising contributor base, and Wikipedia’s growing role as a trusted backbone for AI and the internet.

The Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organisation that operates Wikipedia, has launched the global Wikipedia 25 campaign.

They’re inviting users to explore the platform’s evolution, celebrate the volunteers who sustain it, and engage with its future at a time when digital trust, artificial intelligence (AI), and access to verified information have never been more critical.

Wikipedia’s Role in the Architecture of the Internet

“Wikipedia is a digital wonder of the world, unlike anything else,” said Maryana Iskander, Chief Executive Officer of the Wikimedia Foundation. “It has overcome countless challenges and changes in its time thanks to the people behind it and their unwavering commitment. With a growing number of organisations relying on Wikipedia’s free, verified knowledge, this platform has become integral to the architecture of the entire internet.”

Launch of New Wikipedia Video Docuseries

At the core of the anniversary is the launch of a new Wikipedia video docuseries, released today, presenting a behind-the-scenes look at the lives and motivations of volunteer editors around the world.

Wikipedia’s 65 million articles are written, edited, and fact-checked by a global community of nearly 250,000 volunteers operating under strict standards of neutrality and reliability.

Africa’s Representation Through Volunteer Editors

Among the eight editors featured in the docuseries is Goodness Ignatius from Nigeria, whose work reflects Africa’s growing role in shaping global digital knowledge. She is a librarian by profession, and her contributions span Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. She is also an active member of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group.

Goodness is the co-founder of the IG Wiki Librarians Hub, which strengthens collaboration among information professionals in Nigeria’s Igbo community. Her story reflects a central message of Wikipedia at 25: even in the era of AI, knowledge remains human and needs humans.

Digital Time Capsule Highlights Wikipedia’s History

The Foundation has also introduced a 25 Years of Wikipedia digital time capsule, allowing users to explore defining moments in the platform’s history and its role during major global events.

The capsule includes reflections from Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, who recalls installing the site’s first servers, as well as moments when Wikipedia’s infrastructure was strengthened by global demand following the death of Michael Jackson in 2009.

Exploring the Future of Knowledge Sharing

Looking ahead, a new interactive quiz invites users to discover which imagined “Wikipedia future” resonates with them. These features, co-created by Wikipedia editors, children, futurists, and artists, offer diverse visions of how knowledge may be shared in the decades to come.

Wikipedia’s Central Role in AI and Information Access

As AI continues to redefine how information is created, accessed, and consumed, Wikipedia remains among the top ten most visited websites globally and the only one run by a non-profit organisation.

Its articles, available in more than 300 languages, are viewed nearly 15 billion times every month and are widely used by search engines, voice assistants, and generative AI systems. The platform is also one of the highest-quality datasets used to train large language models, highlighting its position as a trusted foundation for the AI-powered internet.

Partnerships and Human-Centred AI Strategy

The Wikimedia Foundation has strengthened partnerships with major technology companies through Wikimedia Enterprise, a commercial platform that provides large-scale access to Wikimedia content while supporting the Foundation’s non-profit mission.

New partners over the past year include Ecosia, Microsoft, Mistral AI, Perplexity, Pleias, and ProRata, alongside existing partners Amazon, Google, and Meta.

The Foundation has also adopted an AI strategy that puts humans first, ensuring AI tools support volunteer contributors rather than replacing them. Efforts to close global knowledge gaps have intensified, with projects such as Abstract Wikipedia designed to make knowledge available in all languages, underscoring Africa’s strategic importance in shaping a more inclusive digital future.

Africa’s Growing Influence in Global Digital Knowledge

Africa’s growing influence is reflected in the expansion of African contributor communities, local language projects, and community-led innovation. The continent is increasingly positioned not only as a consumer of digital knowledge, but as a creator and curator within the global AI ecosystem.

“As we look to the next billion people who will come online, Africa will have a critical role to play in ensuring that Wikipedia’s knowledge, and by extension the wider internet, reflects the richness of the continent and its people,” said Bobby Shabangu, Wikimedia Foundation Board Trustee.

Wikipedia at 25: Human-Powered Knowledge in an AI Era

Wikipedia’s message for its next chapter is clear: in an AI-driven world, trusted, human-powered knowledge matters more than ever.

“In 2001, Wikipedia started as a dream to share knowledge with everyone, everywhere,” said Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia founder and Wikimedia Foundation trustee. “Against all odds, Wikipedia has grown to become the backbone of knowledge on the internet today. Wikipedia demonstrates 25 years of humanity at its best.”

Anniversary Activities and Celebrations

The 25th anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the year, including a global virtual birthday event, social media activations, limited-edition merchandise, and playful digital features such as “birthday mode” and the debut of Baby Globe, a new mascot inspired by volunteer sketches.

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