25 Years of Wikipedia: The Human Experiment That Built the Internet’s Memory

On January 15, 2026, Wikipedia crossed a milestone few digital platforms ever reach — 25 years of existence. What began in 2001 as an ambitious experiment to let strangers write an encyclopedia together has grown into one of the most trusted pillars of the modern internet. To mark the occasion, the Wikimedia Foundation has launched “Wikipedia 25,” a year-long global celebration built around a powerful idea: Knowledge is Human.

Unlike flashy tech anniversaries driven by product launches or hardware reveals, Wikipedia’s celebration puts people front and centre — the millions of volunteers who have quietly shaped the world’s largest open knowledge project.

A Global Birthday, Celebrated Online

The anniversary kicked off with a massive virtual event livestreamed across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, blending games, storytelling, and surprise guest appearances. Instead of focusing on algorithms or growth charts, the event highlighted the human side of Wikipedia — editors, contributors, and readers from every corner of the globe.

Adding depth to the celebration is a newly released video docuseries that profiles eight volunteer editors. Among them is Dr. Netha Hussain, an Indian medical doctor who contributes health-related content, and a California-based weather expert who ensures climate and forecasting articles stay accurate and accessible.

New Ways to Celebrate 25 Years of Knowledge

Wikipedia is also rolling out a series of interactive features throughout 2026. Users can sign a digital birthday card on social media — an attempt to create the longest birthday message ever written online. In February, the site will introduce “Birthday Mode,” complete with Baby Globe, a cheerful mascot inspired by volunteer sketches.

There’s also a digital “25 Years of Wikipedia” time capsule, letting users explore defining moments from the platform’s history — from early edits to major global milestones.

Read Also : Fast Frames, Rich Colours: BenQ’s EW270Q Aims to Redefinethe All-Round Gaming Monitor

Wikipedia in the Age of AI

At 25, Wikipedia isn’t just surviving the AI era — it’s shaping it. With over 65 million articles in 300+ languages and nearly 15 billion monthly views, Wikipedia has become a critical source of human-verified knowledge for search engines, voice assistants, and generative AI systems.

To ensure sustainability, the Wikimedia Foundation has announced new commercial partnerships through Wikimedia Enterprise. Companies like Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Mistral AI now pay for high-volume, structured access to Wikipedia’s data — helping fund the platform while keeping content free for everyone else.

Read Also : Seqrite Taps Terrabyte Group to Power Its Southeast AsiaCybersecurity Push

Reflecting on the journey, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales said, “In 2001, Wikipedia started as a dream to share knowledge with everyone, everywhere. No one knew if it would work. Today, it has become the backbone of knowledge on the internet.”

As celebrations continue worldwide through 2026, Wikipedia’s message is clear: in a digital world increasingly shaped by machines, human-curated knowledge still matters more than ever.

By Aaradhay Sharma