Wikipedia remains popular despite the rise of artificial intelligence tools, according to a new study from King’s College London.
The free online encyclopedia, launched in 2001, has often been predicted to decline due to AI technologies like ChatGPT.
Researchers analysed twelve Wikipedia language editions between January 2021 and January 2024, six with ChatGPT access and six without.
They found no drop in page views or user numbers, and activity actually increased across all editions studied.
Growth was smaller in languages where ChatGPT was available, but edits and editor numbers remained steady, the study said.
The researchers noted potential limitations, including VPN usage bypassing ChatGPT restrictions and varying ChatGPT popularity in different countries.
Experts warn that AI scraping, which collects Wikipedia data at large scale, creates technical and ethical challenges for the platform.
Elena Simperl, a King’s College professor, said AI developers strain Wikipedia servers by collecting high-quality data without crediting it.
Simperl added that uncredited AI-generated content can divert web traffic away from the free encyclopedia, reducing visibility for volunteers.
Neal Reeves, co-author of the study, called for a “new social contract” between AI companies and Wikipedia to manage content use responsibly.
The study coincided with Wikimedia Deutschland’s announcement of the Wikidata Embedding Project, a database aimed at improving AI access to verified content.
This system will allow AI models to draw on information approved by Wikipedia editors instead of scraping pages directly.
While Wikipedia use remains strong, researchers warn that AI data collection and changing user habits create serious challenges for its future.
The study highlights the need for cooperation between AI developers and Wikipedia to maintain the platform’s reliability and long-term sustainability.
