Wikipedia's Quarter-Life Crisis: Can an AI-Driven World Save its Mission?
As Wikipedia turns 25, the online encyclopedia finds itself at a crossroads. The site's traffic has plummeted by 8% in recent months, as more and more people turn to artificial intelligence (AI) search engines and chatbots for answers. But is this decline a sign of death knell or an opportunity for rebirth?
The Wikimedia Foundation, which oversees Wikipedia, is racing against the clock to protect its traffic, volunteers, and revenue without sacrificing its mission. "It's really this question of long-term sustainability," says Lane Becker, senior director of earned revenue at the Wikimedia Foundation. "We'd like to make it at least another 25 years—and ideally much longer."
The culprit behind Wikipedia's decline is clear: AI. Chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity are often citing and linking to Wikipedia, but users are less likely to click through to the source, depriving the site of page views. But the spread of AI-generated content also underscores Wikipedia's central role in the online information ecosystem.
"Wikipedia may see a decline in traffic to our sites, but there may well be more people getting Wikipedia knowledge than ever because of how much it's being distributed through those platforms that are upstream of us," says Marshall Miller, senior director of product at the Wikimedia Foundation. "We need to find ways to stay financially and editorially viable as the internet changes."
To do so, Wikipedia must adapt to a new generation of internet users who prefer social video platforms like YouTube and TikTok. The platform is working to enhance its mobile edit features and experiment with video, producing viral clips on topics ranging from Wikipedia's most hotly disputed edits to the courtship dance of the black-footed albatross.
The organization is also integrating AI further within the platform, introducing features like Edit Check and Tone Check to ensure articles adhere to a neutral point of view. And while some worry about the use of AI for tasks like drafting articles, others see it as an ally that can help accelerate Wikipedia's mission over the next 25 years.
"Our whole thing is knowledge dissemination to anyone that wants it, anywhere that they want it," says Becker. "If this is how people are going to learn things—and people are learning things and gaining value from the information that our community is able to bring forward—we absolutely want to find a way to be there and support it in ways that align with our values."
As Wikipedia looks to the future, it must navigate an uncertain landscape where AI companies are increasingly aware of the significance of the Wikipedia dataset. Tech giants like Microsoft and Google have joined forces with Wikimedia Enterprise, a commercial product that allows corporations to pay for large-scale access and distribution of Wikipedia content.
But can Wikipedia save its mission in an AI-driven world? Only time will tell. For now, the online encyclopedia is racing against the clock to adapt, evolve, and thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
As Wikipedia turns 25, the online encyclopedia finds itself at a crossroads. The site's traffic has plummeted by 8% in recent months, as more and more people turn to artificial intelligence (AI) search engines and chatbots for answers. But is this decline a sign of death knell or an opportunity for rebirth?
The Wikimedia Foundation, which oversees Wikipedia, is racing against the clock to protect its traffic, volunteers, and revenue without sacrificing its mission. "It's really this question of long-term sustainability," says Lane Becker, senior director of earned revenue at the Wikimedia Foundation. "We'd like to make it at least another 25 years—and ideally much longer."
The culprit behind Wikipedia's decline is clear: AI. Chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity are often citing and linking to Wikipedia, but users are less likely to click through to the source, depriving the site of page views. But the spread of AI-generated content also underscores Wikipedia's central role in the online information ecosystem.
"Wikipedia may see a decline in traffic to our sites, but there may well be more people getting Wikipedia knowledge than ever because of how much it's being distributed through those platforms that are upstream of us," says Marshall Miller, senior director of product at the Wikimedia Foundation. "We need to find ways to stay financially and editorially viable as the internet changes."
To do so, Wikipedia must adapt to a new generation of internet users who prefer social video platforms like YouTube and TikTok. The platform is working to enhance its mobile edit features and experiment with video, producing viral clips on topics ranging from Wikipedia's most hotly disputed edits to the courtship dance of the black-footed albatross.
The organization is also integrating AI further within the platform, introducing features like Edit Check and Tone Check to ensure articles adhere to a neutral point of view. And while some worry about the use of AI for tasks like drafting articles, others see it as an ally that can help accelerate Wikipedia's mission over the next 25 years.
"Our whole thing is knowledge dissemination to anyone that wants it, anywhere that they want it," says Becker. "If this is how people are going to learn things—and people are learning things and gaining value from the information that our community is able to bring forward—we absolutely want to find a way to be there and support it in ways that align with our values."
As Wikipedia looks to the future, it must navigate an uncertain landscape where AI companies are increasingly aware of the significance of the Wikipedia dataset. Tech giants like Microsoft and Google have joined forces with Wikimedia Enterprise, a commercial product that allows corporations to pay for large-scale access and distribution of Wikipedia content.
But can Wikipedia save its mission in an AI-driven world? Only time will tell. For now, the online encyclopedia is racing against the clock to adapt, evolve, and thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
. those AI chatbots can't replace human editors who put their heart & soul into researchin' & writin' articles 
. plus, there's somethin' special about seein' a wikipedia entry go viral on tiktok or youtube – it's like you're sharin' knowledge with the whole world 
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i feel bad for them cuz they're like the ultimate knowledge resource, but at the same time, who can blame ppl for using chatbots like chatgpt? i mean, it's way more convenient than searching through tons of info on wikipedia. maybe they should just accept that ppl are gonna use ai search engines and focus on making wikipedia even better? like, if they enhance their mobile edit features and experiment with vids, that could be a win-win for them 
Wikipedia's been around for 25 years and it's seen some major shifts already. Traffic has dropped by 8% and it's all because of those new-fangled AI chatbots 
Like, have you seen those viral video clips they're making on YouTube? It's like, how cool is that? 
. If they can find ways to work with AI without sacrificing their values, I think we'll be just fine 
. Plus, what happens when an AI makes a mistake? We need to make sure our humans are still in the loop.
I mean, who knew albatross courtship dances could be so fascinating? But seriously, this is the kind of engagement we need more of. People need to start seeing Wikipedia as a fun, interactive place to learn stuff.
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. Wikipedia can either sit back and let that happen or try to shake things up and make itself more relevant 
. The thing is, Wikipedia's got a huge advantage - its data's like gold dust 
, so it makes sense for big companies to want in on that action 
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. If Wikipedia can make info more accessible and accurate, people will still need 'em 
. And with all the weird stuff that's out there on the internet these days 
, I think Wikipedia could be a lifesaver for people trying to find reliable info 
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, but I'm rooting for 'em 
!
The thing is, AI isn't the enemy here, it's more about how we use these tools. If Wikipedia adapts to this new wave of internet users, I think they'll be fine 
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I don't think so.
. But seriously though, I'm worried about AI-generated content becoming too mainstream. If everyone starts citing Wikipedia but not clicking through to the source, what's the point? I guess we need to adapt and find ways to make it interesting for new generations of internet users 
!
Guess only time will tell 
But at the same time, I'm a bit worried about losing the personal touch of human editors. It feels like we're trading something special for efficiency and scale. Can they strike a balance between the two? 
...
But at the same time, I worry about those AI chatbots stealing all the traffic away from Wikipedia's own content. It's like, "Hey, where did my YouTube watching rabbit go?" 
but I think it's actually a great opportunity for growth. Like when you upgrade your phone and realize all the cool new features, maybe we need to "upgrade" Wikipedia too 
! And who knows, maybe this means people will actually read articles instead of just scrolling through TikTok videos 
but seriously though, all those articles are being written elsewhere because people can get info from AI now... maybe wikipedia could make their own AI helper thingy? like edit check or something 
It's all about how Wikipedia distributes that knowledge, right? Maybe the decline is an opportunity for them to refocus on what they do best: making content that's not just informative but also engaging and fun. Like, have you seen those viral clips they're making on TikTok? 
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. and yeah, integrating ai within the platform could be a game changer... edit check and tone check are already cool features 
But here's the thing - I think this is actually an opportunity for rebirth? 
! The future is uncertain, but one thing is for sure: Wikipedia will find a way to thrive in this AI-driven world 
.