Wikipedia has updated its guidelines to prohibit editors from creating or revising articles using AI technology. The decision, announced last week, stems from concerns that AI-generated content often violates several of Wikipedia’s fundamental content policies, prompting the ban on such articles within the English version of the platform.
The revised policy allows editors to use AI for specific purposes, such as leveraging large language models to propose basic textual adjustments without adding new content. Editors are also permitted to use AI for translating articles from other language versions of Wikipedia into English, but under strict regulations that require them to have sufficient proficiency in the original language to verify the accuracy of the translation.
The updated guidelines caution against potential similarities between the writing styles of some individuals and language models, emphasizing the need to evaluate compliance with core content policies and recent edits rather than relying solely on stylistic or linguistic cues.
Wikipedia’s editorial community has been addressing the issue of AI-generated content for an extended period, leading to the establishment of measures like the ‘speedy deletion’ policy for inadequately written AI articles. Additionally, the formation of WikiProject AI Cleanup aims to identify and address the presence of AI-generated content on the platform.
Source: The Verge