May 5, 2025 Wikipedia is integrating generative AI into its editing tools—but not to replace its human volunteers. The Wikimedia Foundation announced a three-year strategy to use AI to assist editors by automating tedious tasks, improving information discoverability, and supporting multilingual content creation.
Chris Albon, Director of Machine Learning at Wikimedia, emphasized that AI will be used to “remove technical barriers” and “tedious tasks” that impede editors’ workflow, such as background research, translation, and onboarding new volunteers. The goal is to give editors more time for deliberation and less on technical support.
The initiative aims to enhance the editing experience by automating tasks like background research, translation, and onboarding new contributors. This approach allows human editors to focus more on content quality and consensus-building. The foundation is committed to a human-centered, transparent, and multilingual approach, utilizing open-source AI tools.
This move reflects Wikipedia’s commitment to supporting its volunteer community while adapting to technological advancements. By leveraging AI to handle repetitive tasks, Wikipedia aims to maintain its human-centric platform and improve the overall quality of its content.
