How He Started Wikipedia!

Summary

In this video, Naz Daley visits Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, in London. Wales shares his childhood love for learning and the inspiration behind creating Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia. Initially a for-profit venture, Wales made the revolutionary decision to offer Wikipedia free of charge, leading to a global community contributing over 50 million articles in 300 languages. Despite the potential for immense wealth, Wales chose to keep it ad-free and donation-funded, emphasizing the value of free knowledge.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Jimmy Wales is the founder of Wikipedia and the video features an interview with him at his London home.
• 📚 From a young age, Jimmy had a passion for learning and was inspired by the limitations of physical encyclopedias.
• 💡 The invention of the internet prompted Jimmy to conceive the idea of an online encyclopedia that could be easily updated.
• 🌍 He named this online encyclopedia 'Wikipedia', combining 'wiki' from Hawaiian meaning 'quick' and the concept of a collaborative encyclopedia.
• 🏢 Initially, Wikipedia was a for-profit company with plans to sell ads and pay editors, but later transitioned to a non-profit model.
• 🆓 Jimmy made the decision to offer Wikipedia free of charge, which attracted editors globally and led to rapid growth in content.
• 🔍 Wikipedia's content is fact-checked by its community of editors, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
• 📈 With over 50 million articles in 300 languages, Wikipedia has become an invaluable resource for people worldwide.
• 💸 Despite its potential to generate significant revenue, Wikipedia is funded by donations, mostly small ones, reflecting its commitment to free knowledge.
• 🌟 Jimmy Wales could have been a billionaire but chose to give away the potential profits, prioritizing the democratization of knowledge.
• 🌈 The video emphasizes the global impact of Wikipedia, from a kid in Malaysia to a retired soldier in Wisconsin, highlighting its universal utility.

Q & A

Who is Jimmy Wales and what is his connection to Wikipedia?

Jimmy Wales is the founder of Wikipedia. He started the platform with the idea of making the world's knowledge accessible on the internet.

What was Jimmy Wales' childhood passion that inspired Wikipedia?

Jimmy Wales loved learning as a child and his mother bought him physical encyclopedia books to read. The limitations of these books led him to the idea of creating a constantly updated, digital encyclopedia.

What does the term 'Wikipedia' mean?

Wikipedia is derived from the Hawaiian word 'wiki wiki', meaning 'quick', combined with 'encyclopedia', indicating a quick collaboration to create an encyclopedia.

Initially, was Wikipedia intended to be a for-profit company?

Yes, Wikipedia was initially intended to be a for-profit company, with plans to sell ads and use the revenue to pay editors.

What significant decision did Jimmy Wales make regarding Wikipedia's business model?

Jimmy Wales decided to make Wikipedia completely free, eliminating ads, monthly subscriptions, and any form of revenue generation.

How did making Wikipedia free affect its growth?

Making Wikipedia free led to a surge in contributions from editors worldwide, resulting in over 50 million articles in 300 languages being written.

What is the financial model of Wikipedia now that it is free?

Wikipedia is primarily funded by donations, mostly small ones, from a tiny percentage of its users.

How has Jimmy Wales' decision to keep Wikipedia free impacted its accessibility?

By keeping Wikipedia free, it ensures that anyone, regardless of their financial situation or location, can access its wealth of information.

What is Jimmy Wales' personal view on wealth and his lifestyle?

Jimmy Wales suggests that despite having the potential to be a billionaire, he prefers a life that allows him to meet world leaders and have the freedom to do what he likes.

How does the script suggest that the world has changed because of Wikipedia?

The script implies that Wikipedia has become an essential resource for people worldwide, from students to professionals, and has significantly democratized access to knowledge.

What is the script's final message about the impact of Wikipedia and Jimmy Wales?

The script concludes by expressing gratitude to Jimmy Wales for creating Wikipedia, which has become a fundamental part of the global information landscape.