As artificial intelligence becomes more common in editorial and media work, many websites are now working to set clear rules for its use. This week, Wikipedia introduced a ban on the use of AI-generated text by its editors, though it did not prohibit AI tools entirely from the site’s editorial processes.
In a recent policy update, the site now explicitly states that using large language models to generate or rewrite article content is not allowed. This new language replaces and clarifies an earlier, more vague guideline which had only advised against using AI to create new Wikipedia articles from scratch.
The role of AI in Wikipedia articles has become a debated topic within the site’s large, volunteer-based community of editors. Reports indicate the new policy was put to a vote among editors and received strong majority support.
However, the updated policy still allows for some limited use of AI in editorial work. Editors may use large language models to suggest basic copyedits to their own writing. They can incorporate these suggestions after careful human review, but only if the AI does not add any new content of its own. The policy warns that caution is necessary, as these tools can sometimes go beyond simple edits and alter the meaning of text in ways not supported by the cited sources.