The Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organisation behind Wikipedia, has issued a clear directive to artificial intelligence (AI) companies: cease the unauthorised scraping of its vast content and instead opt for its paid Wikimedia Enterprise platform. This move comes as the online encyclopedia grapples with declining human traffic and a surge in AI bot activity, raising concerns about the sustainability of its volunteer-driven model.
Key Takeaways
AI companies are urged to use Wikipedia's paid API (Wikimedia Enterprise) instead of scraping.
Proper attribution to human contributors is required for AI-generated content.
Scraping strains Wikipedia's servers and threatens its non-profit mission.
Human page views have declined by 8% year-over-year, while AI bot traffic has increased.
Wikipedia is exploring AI as a tool to assist, not replace, its human editors.
The Growing Problem of AI Scraping
Wikipedia has observed a significant increase in automated bot traffic, with many AI bots attempting to evade detection by mimicking human users. This surge in activity, particularly noted in May and June 2025, was largely attributed to AI companies scraping the site. Concurrently, the foundation reported an 8% year-over-year decline in "human page views," highlighting a concerning trend that impacts the platform's operational model.
A Call for Responsible Content Access
The Wikimedia Foundation is advocating for a more sustainable approach to AI's use of its data. The organisation is encouraging AI developers to access Wikipedia's content through its opt-in, paid product, Wikimedia Enterprise. This platform is designed to allow companies to use Wikipedia's extensive knowledge base at scale without overburdening the site's servers. Furthermore, the paid nature of this service directly supports Wikipedia's non-profit mission and its global community of volunteer editors.
Attribution and Sustainability
Beyond advocating for the use of its paid API, Wikipedia is also emphasizing the importance of attribution. AI developers are being asked to provide proper credit to the human contributors whose work is used in AI-generated outputs. The foundation argues that transparency about information sources is crucial for public trust and that fewer visits to Wikipedia could lead to a decline in volunteer contributions and individual donations, thereby jeopardising the platform's future.
AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement
While addressing the challenges posed by AI scraping, Wikipedia is not shying away from the potential benefits of artificial intelligence. Earlier in the year, the Wikimedia Foundation outlined its AI strategy, which focuses on leveraging AI as a tool to assist human editors. This includes automating tedious tasks, improving editorial workflows, and enhancing translation capabilities, rather than replacing the human element that is core to Wikipedia's ethos.