Jimmy Wales defends Wikipedia’s commitment to neutrality, transparency, and fact-based editing amid rising criticism from right-wing figures and tech leaders like Elon Musk, who accuse it of bias and have launched competing AI-driven encyclopedias. The site combats vandalism and ideological pressure through strict sourcing policies and community moderation, especially on sensitive topics. While AI presents tools for efficiency, Wales warns of the flood of synthetic content threatening credible information sources. He emphasizes Wikipedia’s non-profit model as essential to its independence, contrasting it with profit-driven tech platforms. Despite challenges, Wales believes in the enduring value of collaborative, neutral knowledge—though he acknowledges today’s culture wars would make launching Wikipedia far more difficult. The conversation also explores broader declines in journalistic trust and the urgent need for objective reporting in democratic discourse.