Key Takeaways
- Wikipedia is developing AI tools to support its volunteer editors, not replace them.
- AI will automate routine tasks, improve information discovery, aid translation, and help onboard new volunteers.
- The initial focus is on using AI to ensure content quality and integrity, rather than generating new articles.
- Wikimedia emphasizes that human judgment, discussion, and consensus remain central to Wikipedia’s success.
- The AI strategy will be implemented over the next three years, with ongoing reviews.
The Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit behind Wikipedia, is embracing artificial intelligence, but with a distinct focus: helping its huge community of human volunteers.
Unlike some AI ventures, Wikipedia isn’t looking to replace its editors. Instead, it plans to build tools that make their work easier and more efficient.
According to Neowin, the foundation sees AI as a way to handle repetitive tasks that don’t require human decision-making. This frees up volunteers for more complex work.
Think of it as giving editors more time for research, discussion, and building consensus – the core activities that have made Wikipedia the vast resource it is today.
AI will also help improve how users find information on the site and assist editors in translating articles, allowing local knowledge to be shared more easily across different language versions.
Another goal is to use AI to create guided mentorship programs, helping new volunteers get started more smoothly.
Wikimedia stresses that the volunteer community is the heart of Wikipedia. They’ve spent nearly 25 years collaboratively building the world’s largest encyclopedia.
For now, the foundation is prioritizing AI tools that help editors maintain the accuracy and integrity of existing content. Creating new content with AI is a lower priority because it could overwhelm the editors’ ability to review it properly.
This balance might change over time, but the initial focus reflects Wikipedia’s commitment to reliable information curated by people.
This new AI strategy is planned to unfold over the next three years, and Wikimedia will adjust its approach based on ongoing needs and developments.
