With WikiTok, you can dive into the depths of Wikipedia in a format that resembles scrolling through TikTok.
A New Era of Browsing
Are you familiar with the concept of ‘architectural forgery’? Until recently, I wasn’t either. In Japan, buildings exceeding a specific height are required to demonstrate structural safety, especially for earthquakes, by providing accurate architectural calculations. In 2005, it was discovered that numerous calculations submitted by structural engineer Hidetsugu Aneha were falsified, leading to the downfall of several construction and real estate firms across Japan.
I learned about this intriguing tidbit through WikiTok, a project that transforms your Wikipedia exploration into an endless, scrollable feed akin to TikTok (via Ars Technica). Instead of long articles, each entry is presented as a concise summary with images and clickable links for further exploration. While accessible on desktop, it shines on mobile devices.
How It Works
Currently, WikiTok pulls random articles from Wikipedia’s API, allowing users to save interesting reads by liking them. Unlike TikTok, the platform has no videos or invasive data tracking.
Isaac Gemal, who harnessed AI coding tools like Cursor and Claude to create a prototype in under two hours, stated that it consists of only several hundred lines of code, mostly crafted by Claude. You can explore this project further on GitHub here.
The inspirational concept arose from an X post thread started by Tyler Angert, who named it ‘Wikitok’. In just hours, Gemal had a working model, showcasing how efficiently AI can facilitate quick development based on trending ideas.
Competition and Future Plans
Gemal was not alone in his venture; shortly after, Alexandre Pesant proposed his version WikTok with a different AI tool, Lovable. Looking ahead, Gemal remarked, “I have no grand plans for monetization; it is fundamentally anti-algorithmic.”
In conclusion, while WikiTok presents a captivating alternative to traditional browsing, it raises questions about information retention and consuming knowledge through a mobile screen. As an open-source platform shaped by user contributions, it underscores the importance of thoroughly examining references and verifying sources.
