Wikipedia bans AI-generated content

Wikipedia has banned the use of artificial intelligence to generate or rewrite content in its online encyclopaedia, according to the Guardian. The new rules reflect concerns that large language models often violate the project’s core principles.

The decision follows a debate among editors, with a vote backing the ban. The English-language version of Wikipedia now includes more than 7.1 million articles.

The ban has two exceptions. Artificial intelligence may be used for translations and minor linguistic edits. Editors can use such tools to suggest basic corrections to their own texts, but only after human review and on condition that no new content is introduced.

Wikipedia also warns that language models can alter the meaning of text or generate information not supported by sources. Such risks underpin the restrictions.

The use of artificial intelligence for information retrieval has grown rapidly in recent years. According to available data, ChatGPT surpassed Wikipedia in monthly traffic last year. At the same time, technology firms are integrating AI into search and other services, while concerns about inaccurate or misleading outputs persist.

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