A
What happened
On November 10, 2025, the Wikimedia Foundation released a blog post urging AI developers to utilize its paid Wikimedia Enterprise API instead of scraping content from its website. This request is part of a broader strategy to ensure Wikipedia's sustainability amid declining traffic and increased scraping by AI bots. The Foundation noted that human page views have dropped by 8% year-over-year, while AI bots have been detected trying to evade detection systems. By using the paid API, AI companies can access Wikipedia's content without overloading its servers and can contribute to the nonprofit's mission. The Foundation also stressed the importance of proper attribution to human contributors, stating that transparency is crucial for maintaining trust in online information. Earlier this year, Wikipedia outlined its AI strategy to assist editors with various tasks rather than replace them.
★
Key insights
-
1
AI Scraping Issues
Wikipedia faces challenges from AI bots scraping its content.
-
2
Paid API Introduction
Wikimedia Enterprise offers a sustainable way for AI firms to access content.
-
3
Declining Human Traffic
Human page views on Wikipedia have decreased by 8% year-over-year.
Takeaways
Wikipedia's initiative to promote responsible use of its content by AI developers is crucial for its sustainability and the integrity of information online. By encouraging the use of its paid API, Wikipedia aims to protect its resources and support its mission.