For many people today, Wikipedia is the main source of information, replacing printed encyclopedias that were used before the internet existed. Over the last 25 years, Wikipedia has become one of the most visited websites in the world, with more than 60 million articles written in over 300 languages. It was created by Jimmy Wales, who imagined a free and shared knowledge platform maintained by a global community of volunteers.
Thousands of contributors regularly edit articles, and many of them can see the real impact of their work, as millions of readers consult these pages every day. Wikipedia’s success is based on human collaboration and careful editing. However, the digital world has changed a lot since its creation. Today, people access information mainly through smartphones, and artificial intelligence tools such as chatbots are becoming more common.
Wikipedia now faces new challenges. Some politicians question its neutrality, and AI companies use its content to train their systems. Although Wikipedia supports innovation, it believes that large technology companies should help pay for the costs they create. Jimmy Wales argues that since Wikipedia provides reliable, human-curated knowledge, companies that depend on it should contribute financially to support its future.
Vocabulary:
• encyclopedia (noun): a reference work containing information on many subjects
• go-to source (noun phrase): the main place people turn to for information
• neutrality (noun): the state of being unbiased or not taking sides
• headwinds (noun): difficulties or challenges slowing progress
• brainchild (noun): an original idea created by one person
• volunteer (noun): someone who works without being paid
• curated (adj): carefully selected and organized by people
• chip in (phrasal verb): to contribute money or help
• fair share (noun phrase): a reasonable or equal part of a cost
Source: DW News