Interviewing Jimmy Wales, Cofounder of Wikipedia

Episode 460 of the Cyberlaw Podcast

In this bonus episode of the Cyberlaw Podcast, I interview Jimmy Wales, the cofounder of Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a rare survivor from the Internet Hippie Age, coexisting like a great herbivorous dinosaur with Facebook, Twitter, and the other carnivorous mammals of Web 2.0. Perhaps not coincidentally, Jimmy is the most prominent founder of a massive internet institution not to become a billionaire. We explore why that is, and how he feels about it.

I ask Jimmy whether Wikipedia's model is sustainable, and what new challenges lie ahead for the online encyclopedia. We explore the claim that Wikipedia has a lefty bias, and whether a neutral point of view can be maintained by including only material from trusted sources. I ask Jimmy about a concrete example -- what looks to me like an idiosyncratically biased entry in Wikipedia for "Communism."

We close with an exploration of the opportunities and risks posed for Wikipedia by ChatGPT and other large language AI models.

Download 460th Episode (mp3)

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Comments

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Wikipedia seems to focus on the reality-based world rather than the realm of superstition; does not appear to cater to old-timey bigots; and seems to be published largely by and for educated persons -- how could it not tend to disfavor conservatism?

[Currentsitguy]

Facts aren't left or right, they simply are and Wikipedia can be too easily edited by literally anyone to ever be an authoritative source.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

When one side leans hard into superstition, belligerent ignorance, nonsense-based education, and delusion (conspiracy theories), facts are no longer evenly distributed.

[Currentsitguy]

You'll get no argument from me there are nuts out there. The whole men can become women group immediately comes to mind.

[SRG]

My opinion on Wikipedia went up once I tried - and eventually succeeded - in creating an entry. There was far more rigour to the process than I was expecting.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

How we should be talking about Wikipedia, instead of giving tongue baths to Jimmy Wales.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Back when journalism cared about this stuff.