Wikipedia Will Use AI to Support, Not Replace, Its Human Editor Community

On April 30, 2025, Wikipedia announced its new AI strategy, clarifying that artificial intelligence will not replace its community of human editors and volunteers. Instead, AI will be employed to enhance user experience and support Wikipedia’s editorial processes. Chris Albon, director of machine learning at the Wikimedia Foundation, stated that AI will be used to eliminate technical barriers and automate routine tasks, freeing editors to focus on higher-level responsibilities like consensus-building and content quality. Among the anticipated applications are AI-assisted workflows, improved content discoverability, and support for multilingual contributions through automated translation. Additionally, AI will help onboard new contributors, making the editing process more accessible. The foundation emphasized a human-centered approach to AI, guided by values such as privacy, transparency, and human rights. Open-source AI tools will be prioritized to ensure accountability and inclusiveness. Albon also underlined the growing importance of Wikipedia’s human-curated content in an era where generative AI often makes factual errors. This move signals Wikipedia’s commitment to preserving the integrity and accuracy of its knowledge base while leveraging AI for supportive and non-replacement functions.