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Top African technology innovators and open knowledge champions have been discussing how Wikipedia can integrate artificial intelligence while preserving its values of neutrality and accuracy.
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The future of the world’s largest free encyclopedia in the AI era was a key focus at Wikimania 2025, which drew participants from 135 countries. The event highlighted East Africa’s increasing influence in global open-source projects that power online knowledge.
During a keynote panel at the first Wikimania hosted in East Africa, Ugandan computer scientist Dr. Joyce Nakatumba-Nabende and South African data scientist Prof. Vukosi Marivate acknowledged AI’s potential to broaden and improve access to information, but also cautioned against its risks, including misinformation, bias, and factual errors.
Panellists stressed that Wikipedia’s community-led approach—where over 260,000 volunteers contribute in more than 300 languages—offers a model for using AI responsibly.
“We must ensure AI supports our mission, not undermines it. We’ve seen technologies like speech recognition helping local communities,” said Dr. Nakatumba-Nabende.
The four-day gathering, attended by more than 2,300 people, explored the sustainability of open knowledge in an era of rapid technological change. Other sessions focused on preserving linguistic diversity, documenting cultural heritage, and expanding free access to credible information.
Marking its 20th edition, Wikimania also celebrated the achievements of the Wikimedia movement.
Maryana Iskander, CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, said: “As we look ahead to Wikipedia’s 25th birthday, we must consider what the next generation needs and how to build on our success over the last quarter century.”
