{
  "id": 15422373,
  "title": "Wikipedia often gets taken for granted – but its history is fascinating, and its future is fragile",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/wikipedia-often-gets-taken-for-granted-but-its-history-is-fascinating",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-18T14:00:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Technology",
    "slug": "guardian-technology",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/18/wikipedia-human-history-ai-future-under-threat"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit, has been consulted trillions of times by billions of people since its founding in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. Its simple, amateurish ethos, born from philosophy and the Zen concept of wabi-sabi, has allowed it to survive the test of time, despite being talked about with a skeptical \"don't trust it\" reputation. However, the Wikipedia community has remained loyal to its democratic roots, attracting contributions from a wide range of disciplines. From philosophy and town planning to poetry, the site's inclusivity has made it an incredible digital \"republic of letters,\" attracting contributions from even those who might otherwise have been dismissed as \"amateurs.\"\n\nThe project's early years were marked by controversies, but it quickly grew to become an essential part of everyday life. Even today, its appearance remains largely unchanged from 20 years ago, serving as a testament to its resilience. Despite this, Wikipedia is often taken for granted, and its lack of paid fact-checkers has led to a disconnect between its massive usage and the trust bestowed upon it.\n\nWikipedia's inception was heavily influenced by philosophy and the idea of wabi-sabi, with its co-founders drawing inspiration from constructivism, among other concepts. This philosophical foundation has persisted over the years, attracting people from diverse backgrounds, including academics, writers, and journalists. The community, comprised of \"wikipedians,\" is passionate and dedicated to their cause, yet often difficult, with a notable gender imbalance.\n\nOne of the site's milestones was the first biographical page created for a woman, Gaytha Langlois, who wrote about Rhode Island and standard poodles. The encyclopedia has also provided an avenue for individuals facing personal challenges, such as Ruth Ifcher, who found a new purpose by contributing to Wikipedia despite severe agoraphobia. The human history behind Wikipedia is a rich tapestry of individuals who have shaped its evolution, with many stories yet to be uncovered.",
  "summary": "Wikipedia’s 68m articles have been consulted trillions of times. Not bad for a website that has barely changed since it was founded 20 years ago A few years ago, I was struck by the tension between how Wikipedia was used, and how it was talked about. Everyone was on it all the time, and yet its reputation had stalled at “don’t trust it”, because it was the “free encyclopedia that anyone can…",
  "key_points": [
    "Wikipedia founded in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger",
    "Inclusive community attracts contributions from diverse disciplines",
    "Milestone: First biographical page for woman, Gaytha Langlois"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}