---
title: LLM Wiki vs RAG
slug: llm-wiki-vs-rag
type: comparison
created: 2026-06-17
updated: 2026-06-17
status: active
tags:
  - llm-wiki
  - rag
  - knowledge-management
sources:
  - karpathy-llm-wiki-gist-2026-04-04
related:
  - llm-wiki-pattern
  - SCHEMA
confidence: high
contradictions:
  - A wiki preserves synthesis but can go stale; RAG preserves access to raw material but can repeatedly miss the same synthesis.
bead_refs:
  - dark-factory-rr4
---

# LLM Wiki vs RAG

RAG retrieves source chunks at question time. An LLM wiki compiles knowledge into maintained Markdown pages before the next question arrives.

## Difference

- RAG is strongest for broad retrieval over many raw documents.
- An LLM wiki is strongest for stable concepts, repeated questions, curated contradictions, and agent handoff.
- RAG can find evidence; a wiki preserves prior reasoning.

## Use Together

Use RAG or web search to inspect raw sources when the source set changes. Update the wiki afterward so the next agent starts from compiled knowledge instead of raw rediscovery.