Wikimedia Technology Summit 2024 held at IIIT Hyderabad
Hyderabad: The Wikimedia Technology Summit 2024, held from October 3 to 5, drew an enthusiastic gathering of technologists, developers, and volunteer contributors to Wikimedia projects from across the country. Hosted by the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad, with support from the Indic MediaWiki Developers User Group and the Wikimedia Foundation, the summit featured a one-day hackathon on the IIIT Hyderabad campus, followed by the main event at the Hyatt Gachibowli hotel.
Bringing together 130 attendees from various regions of India, the summit focused on the theme “Wiki Tech for All: Empowering Voices, Expanding Horizons.” The event aimed to enhance inclusivity within Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects, particularly for smaller language communities.
It provided a unique opportunity for collaboration and knowledge exchange among developers, researchers, community leaders, and WikiClub students from multiple colleges, all dedicated to advancing technological innovations that serve diverse Wikimedia user groups. Students engaged with experienced Wikimedia technical contributors for hands-on training on relevant tools and familiarised themselves with Wikimedia’s technology infrastructure.
“The Wikimedia Technology Summit 2024 is yet another successful event in our long-term endeavour to elevate the technological support available for Indic-language communities and beyond,” said Radhika Mamidi, Associate Professor at IIIT Hyderabad. “We are grateful to our speakers, participants, and supporters for making this event possible, and we look forward to building on the momentum generated here. I would also like to recognise the efforts of our programme manager, Krupal Kasyap, and the support from the Wikimedia Foundation in organising this summit.”
Day 1 of the summit, included a panel discussion on the impact of AI, featuring experts from AI4Bharat, BITS Pilani, CIS, IIIT Hyderabad, and Microsoft. Other sessions addressed the development of content in indigenous languages, the use of OpenStreetMap for updating real-time content during a recent crisis in Kerala, and showcased some of the latest features and tools from the Wikimedia Foundation.
Day 2 shifted focus to addressing the gender gap in technology used by Wikimedia communities, offering workshops covering a range of technical topics, including mobile editing, voice and image-based user scripts, and tools for Indian languages.
This year’s summit also highlighted bridging the gender gap within Wikimedia projects and communities through technical outreach programmes. “At this year’s Wikimedia Technology Summit, we have witnessed a remarkable display of collaboration and passion for knowledge sharing through open-source technology,” said Prof. Vasudeva Varma, Head of the Language Technologies Research Centre (LTRC) at IIIT Hyderabad. “This summit highlights engagement among diverse stakeholders, as we aim to fulfill the mission for free knowledge as envisaged by the Wikimedia movement.”
The summit ended with a Hackathon Showcase, where participants presented their innovative solutions and tool upgrade suggestions. This was followed by a discussion highlighting on the future of the Wikimedia movement and open-source technology in Indic languages.
About the IndicWiki Project
The IndicWiki project by IIIT Hyderabad is a technology and community-driven initiative aimed at enhancing Wikipedia’s content and accessibility in Indian languages. The project seeks to improve article quality, build contributor communities, and develop tools such as technology-assisted article generation and Micro Content Development (MCD) features, while raising awareness about Indian language Wikipedias. IndicWiki has achieved significant success, marked by an increase in articles, stronger communities, and the development of new technologies. Supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and grants from the Wikimedia Foundation, it stands as a model for similar initiatives across India.
