On Wikipedia’s anniversary: Wikipedia relies primarily on journalistic sources, while Grokipedia draws far more frequently on company-provided information
- Analysis by Gisma University of Applied Sciences compares the source mix of Wikipedia and Grokipedia entries on Germany’s 40 largest listed companies
- Grokipedia lists around 80 percent more sources than Wikipedia, but relies almost twice as often on company-owned websites
- Wikipedia sources nearly 60 percent of all references from media and news outlets
Berlin, January 14, 2025 – On the occasion of Wikipedia’s upcoming anniversary, the Gisma University of Applied Sciences (www.gisma.com) examined how knowledge about major publicly listed companies is represented differently on Wikipedia and Grokipedia. The analysis compares the source structures of entries on the 40 largest publicly listed companies in Germany across both platforms. In total, 8,442 linked references were analyzed: 3,012 sources on Wikipedia and 5,430 sources on Grokipedia.
Wikipedia: Majority of sources from media and news
On Wikipedia, 59.83 percent of all sources analyzed come from media and news outlets (1,802 references). Company-owned websites account for 23.14 percent (697 sources). A further 8.32 percent refer to other Wikipedia pages (248 sources), 3.62 percent to academic publications (109), and 2.69 percent to legal or governmental sources (81).
The source mix varies significantly by company. The highest shares of media sources are found in the Wikipedia entries for Vonovia (90.63 percent), Brenntag (79.49 percent), and Zalando (75.27 percent).
The highest proportions of company-owned sources appear in the entries for Munich Re (58.62 percent), Porsche Automobil Holding SE (50.00 percent), and Daimler Truck (50.00 percent).
Academic sources play a minor role overall but are more prominent for certain companies. The highest shares are recorded for Deutsche Bank (19.11 percent), Bayer (14.29 percent), and Commerzbank (5.91 percent).
In terms of absolute numbers of references, the Wikipedia entries for Commerzbank (237 sources), Deutsche Bank (225 sources), and Bayer (175 sources) lead the ranking.
Grokipedia: Stronger focus on company-owned sources
Overall, Grokipedia lists significantly more sources than Wikipedia, but distributes them differently. 46.26 percent of references come from media and news outlets (2,512 sources), while company-owned websites account for nearly as much at 41.84 percent (2,272 sources). Academic sources make up 2.39 percent (130 sources), and legal or governmental sources 3.00 percent (163 sources). References to other Wikipedia pages are virtually negligible at 0.02 percent.
Grokipedia also shows a wide range between individual companies. The highest shares of media sources are found in the entries for Qiagen (77.50 percent), Mercedes-Benz Group (66.02 percent), and Adidas (62.33 percent). The highest proportions of company-owned sources appear in the entries for Infineon (70.00 percent), GEA Group (66.13 percent), and Henkel (63.55 percent).
Academic sources are also rare overall on Grokipedia, but stand out more clearly for certain companies. The highest shares are recorded for Deutsche Telekom (7.87 percent), Symrise (6.67 percent), and Beiersdorf (6.52 percent).
Looking at absolute numbers of references, the Grokipedia entries for BMW (352 sources), Volkswagen (283 sources), and Zalando (228 sources) rank highest.
AI systems cited as sources only on Grokipedia
An additional difference emerges in the use of artificial intelligence as a source. In Grokipedia entries, five references were explicitly identified as AI-based systems: once each for Allianz, BMW, and Zalando, and twice for Siemens. No AI systems were identified as sources on Wikipedia. While the overall share is small, it highlights differing approaches to referencing information.
“Quantity is not the same as quality—our study shows this very clearly,” explains Prof. Dr. Ramon O’Callaghan, President of Gisma University of Applied Sciences. “At a time when information is available in abundance and easily manipulated, the quality and origin of sources are of central importance. It is also clear that Wikipedia is not a scientific publication platform and does not replace academic research. Nevertheless, a broad, journalistically grounded, and verifiable source base provides a minimum level of transparency and traceability. Knowledge platforms bear responsibility for how reality is constructed. When a platform relies predominantly on company-owned sources, it does not promote diversity but controls narratives. This is not a neutral act but a form of interpretive authority. It is precisely here that the question of responsibility in dealing with knowledge is more relevant today than ever before.”
About the study
All Wikipedia and Grokipedia entries on the 40 DAX companies were collected and analyzed. All linked sources were assigned to the categories company-owned website, media/news, other company website, and academic source, and evaluated proportionally. The reference date for data collection was October 30, 2025.
About Gisma University of Applied Sciences
Gisma University of Applied Sciences is a state-recognized private university with campuses in Potsdam and Berlin. Students and faculty from more than 90 nations bring global perspectives to programs in management, leadership, data sciences, artificial intelligence, and software engineering. Teaching combines academic research with hands-on experience from executives and entrepreneurs. The university’s goal is to prepare students for management practice in a complex, rapidly changing world and to contribute impulses for business and society.
Gisma maintains active career partnerships with leading companies such as Zalando, eBay, SAP, and Amazon and is a member of the SAP University Alliances. Each year, it contributes around €126.5 million to the economic output of the Berlin–Brandenburg region (BSIS). More than 74 percent of graduates remain in the region, and over 15 startups founded by students and alumni have created more than 120 jobs to date.
In 2025, Gisma was one of only two universities in Germany to receive the prestigious BSIS Impact Label from EFMD, recognizing its measurable social, economic, and academic impact. All degree programs are state-recognized and accredited by FIBAA and the German Accreditation Council. Gisma is part of GUS Germany GmbH (GGG), a network of higher education institutions with more than 18,000 students in Germany, Europe, and worldwide. www.gisma.com | www.gusgermany.com