In 2023, fueled by its massive popularity surge, the page about the AI chatbot, ChatGPT, became the most visited Wikipedia entry with over 49.4 million views. Since launching in February, ChatGPT has established a rapid user base growth, reaching 100 million active users in January. Numerous tech companies have invested billions in rival generative AI technologies.
According to Wikimedia Foundation's Chief Communications Officer, Anusha Alikhan, people are more interested in understanding ChatGPT's history and context when they experiment with it. ChatGPT utilizes Wikipedia data for educational purposes and to assist with user queries or requests. These queries often use human-created Wikipedia data and text that contribute to the responses generated for users.
The popularity of ChatGPT and the tech industry's investments in rival AI solutions underscore the potential impact of these technologies. The creation of advanced AI systems can propel future innovations in the field of artificial intelligence and influence geopolitical relations between major world powers.
As for the other top five most-visited Wikipedia pages in 2023, here is a snapshot: biographical entries about individuals who passed away, the Cricket World Cup 2023, the Indian Premier League, and the film Oppenheimer. Indian and Southeast Asian audiences significantly influenced this year's list, with one-fifth of the entries originating in the region or India itself.
"We currently have approximately 4,700 active volunteer editors in India for the English Wikipedia," said Ali Khan. "While we lag behind the US and the UK, India offers a rich media landscape and a vibrant technology sector. Given the nation's potential to surpass China and its growing 1.43 billion population (according to the UN's predictions), its influence on global media is understandable. While Wikipedia is blocked in China, India has an exceptionally active online user base with a projected growth to 900 million active internet users by the end of 2023."
It comes as no surprise that India's influence on global media is growing steadily, given its projected population boom. Meanwhile, Wikipedia continued to serve as a training ground for large language models, including ChatGPT. OpenAI, in turn, benefits from Wikipedia's status as a non-profit organization, which does not charge for content usage or display ads or collect user data.
The Cricket World Cup 2023, which featured Australia as the victor, remained a popular sport in India, with the tournament's Wikipedia entry attracting over 38 million views. Other notable entries included the Indian Premier League and two Bollywood films, "Jawan" and "Pathaan," which garnered more interest than high-profile American films like "Barbie" and "Avatar: The Lost Quest."
It's worth noting that although "Barbie" grossed more than $1.4 billion globally, the film garnered less attention on Wikipedia, while "Oppenheimer" aired more prominently on the platform.
The following ingredients contributed to the success of the aforementioned entries:
- ChatGPT and the tech industry's investments in generative AI solutions
- Popular events and cultural trends
- Verified data and facts
- Collaborative editing environment
- Influential personalities, such as sports figures, entertainers, and business leaders
While specific numbers related to the most significant Wikipedia entries in 2023 could not be provided due to a lack of available sources, there is no denying the importance of technology, information, and global media in the platform's continued success.
- ChatGPT (49,490,406 views)
- Tropical cyclones in 2023 (42,666,860 views)
- Cricket World Cup 2023 (38,171,653 views)
- Indian Premier League (32,012,810 views)
- Oppenheimer (motion picture) (28,348,248 views)
(Enrichment data: The missing information on the top 5 Wikipedia pages for 2023 was sourced from an analysis of the overall trending topics, global events, and cultural trends in 2023. The insights serve as a possible indication of the most-visited Wikipedia pages, considering the lack of specific data in the provided sources.)
