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Марія БровінськаStartup
12 February 2025, 08:14
2025-02-12
A developer from the US “crossed” Wikipedia with TikTok using AI. Now WikiTok’s endless stream of useful articles cures users of boredom and addiction to algorithms
A New York-based app developer named Isaac Gemal has debuted a new site called WikiTok, where users can vertically scroll through an endless stream of Wikipedia article stubs, similar to the interface of the video-sharing app TikTok.
A New York-based app developer named Isaac Gemal has debuted a new site called WikiTok, where users can vertically scroll through an endless stream of Wikipedia article stubs, similar to the interface of the video-sharing app TikTok.
It’s a great way to stumble across interesting information, learn something new, and kill some free time without resorting to algorithmically dependent social networks, says arstechnica. However, WikiTok is addictive in its own way, but without an invasive algorithm that tracks you and pushes you towards content with the lowest common denominator.
How the service works
WikiTok, which works across mobile and desktop browsers, presents visitors with a random list of Wikipedia articles, selected from the Wikipedia API, in a vertically scrollable interface. Despite its TikTok-like name, it currently doesn’t feature videos. Each entry is accompanied by an image taken from the corresponding article. If you see something you like, you can click «Read more» and the full Wikipedia page on the topic will open in your browser.
Currently, the feed is formed randomly, and Gemal resists calls to automatically adjust the flow of articles to users' interests, based on what they show interest in.
«A lot of people were messaging me and even creating issues on my GitHub asking for some crazy WikiTok algorithm,» Gemal told Ars. «And I had to push back and say things like, 'We’re already being governed by ruthless, opaque algorithms in our daily lives; why can’t we have at least one little corner of the world without them?'»
The breadth of topics you’ll encounter on WikiTok is impressive, thanks to the wide range of knowledge that Wikipedia covers.
How WikiTok came about
The initial idea for WikiTok came from developer Tyler Angert on Monday night, when he wrote in X: «Crazy project idea: the entire Wikipedia on one scrollable page.» Bloomberg beta investor James Cham replied: «Better yet, an infinitely scrollable Wikipedia page based on what you’re interested in next?» and Angert came up with the name «WikiTok» in a follow-up post.
Early the next morning, at 12:28, writer Grant Slatton quoted a discussion about WikiTok on X, and that’s when Gemal came in. «I saw it from a retweet of the quote and immediately thought, 'Wow, I can build an MVP and it could take off.'»
Gemal started his project at 12:30 a.m., and with the help of artificial intelligence tools like Claude and Cursor from Anthropic, he finished the prototype by 2 a.m. and published the results on X. Later, someone announced WikiTok in the Hacker News section of ycombinator, where it topped the site’s daily news list.
«AI helped me do it very, very quickly and simply by taking advantage of the initial viral tweet asking for a scrollable Wikipedia,» the developer said.
Gemal has posted the WikiTok code on GitHub, so anyone can join the project and contribute to its development.
The web app currently supports 14 languages, article previews, and article sharing across both desktop and mobile browsers. New features may be added as contributors add them. It is based on a technology stack that includes React 18, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and Vite.
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Якщо ви користуєтеся TikTok, то знаєте — зберегти відео легко, але в кутку буде назва застосунку й ім’я його творця. Зазвичай це не є перепоною, проте з різних причин можна зіткнутися з необхідністю завантажити ролик без водяного знака. Наприклад, ви створили власне відео в застосунку і хочете зберегти його без логотипа, а такої можливості немає. Утім, способів обійти цю проблему чимало.