Elon Musk Fires Back at Wikipedia Co-Founder Jimmy Wales Over Grokipedia Criticism
Elon Musk recently found himself in a heated exchange with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales after Wales dismissed xAI’s new AI-powered alternative, Grokipedia, as a “ridiculous” idea bound to fail. Musk’s response to Wales’ comments was swift and to the point, simply stating, “Famous last words.”
Wales made these remarks while discussing Wikipedia’s commitment to neutrality. According to Wales, neutrality is a core value at Wikipedia, and a neutral point of view is non-negotiable within the community. He also refuted claims that Wikipedia has become biased, stating, “The idea that we’ve become somehow ‘Wokepedia’ is just not true.”
When asked about potential competition from Grokipedia, Wales downplayed the threat, saying, “There is no competition. I don’t know if anyone uses Grokipedia. I think it is a ridiculous idea that will never work.”
Following the launch of Grokipedia, Larry Sanger, another co-founder of Wikipedia, shared his initial impressions of the AI-powered platform, describing it as “very OK.” Sanger expressed optimism about Grokipedia’s potential, stating, “The jury’s still out as to whether it’s actually better than Wikipedia. But at this point, I would have to say ‘maybe!'”
Musk responded to Sanger’s assessment, agreeing that it was accurate. He even went as far as to claim that Grokipedia, even in its V0.1 form, was already superior to Wikipedia.
During a previous appearance on the Tucker Carlson Show, Sanger criticized Wikipedia for straying from its original vision. He raised concerns about the platform’s “Reliable sources/Perennial sources” framework, suggesting that it leans heavily left and marginalizes conservative publications in favor of liberal ones.
As of the latest reports, Grokipedia has reportedly surpassed 80% of English Wikipedia’s article count, signaling the platform’s growing presence in the online encyclopedia space.