Wikipedia Cancels AI Article Summary Test Following Editor Backlash

Wikipedia has decided to withdraw its plans to test AI-generated article summaries after facing significant criticism from its editing community. Earlier this month, the platform announced a trial that would have introduced AI summaries for approximately 10 percent of mobile web visitors. However, the response from editors was overwhelmingly negative, prompting the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) to cancel the initiative.

Details of the Proposed AI Summaries

The AI-generated summaries were intended to appear at the top of selected articles for a small percentage of mobile users. Readers would have had the option to opt in to view these summaries, which were to be displayed only on a limited set of articles during a two-week trial period.

Editor Reactions

Feedback from editors on the WMF’s announcement (via 404 Media) ranged from expressions of disgust to alarm. One editor remarked, “Just because Google has rolled out its AI summaries doesn’t mean we need to one-up them. I sincerely beg you not to test this, on mobile or anywhere else. This would do immediate and irreversible harm to our readers and to our reputation as a decently trustworthy and serious source.”

Another editor commented on the platform’s reputation, stating, “Wikipedia has in some ways become a byword for sober boringness, which is excellent. Let’s not insult our readers’ intelligence and join the stampede to roll out flashy AI summaries.” This sentiment reflects a broader concern among editors about maintaining the integrity and reliability of Wikipedia as a source of information.

Wikimedia Foundation

Concerns Over Exclusion from Planning

Criticism from editors extended beyond the concept of AI summaries. Many expressed frustration over their exclusion from the planning process. One editor pointed out, “You also say this has been ‘discussed,’ which is thoroughly laughable as the ‘discussion’ you link to has exactly one participant, the original poster, who is another WMF employee.” This highlights a perceived lack of transparency and collaboration in decision-making processes at the WMF.

Wikimedia Foundation’s Response

A spokesperson for the Wikimedia Foundation provided a statement to Engadget, explaining the rationale behind the proposed experiment:

“The Wikimedia Foundation has been exploring ways to make Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects more accessible to readers globally more accessible. This two-week, opt-in experiment was focused on making complex Wikipedia articles more accessible to people with different reading levels. For the purposes of this experiment, the summaries were generated by an open-weight Aya model by Cohere. It was meant to gauge interest in a feature like this, and to help us think about the right kind of community moderation systems to ensure humans remain central to deciding what information is shown on Wikipedia.”

The spokesperson further elaborated on the foundation’s usual process, stating:

“For these experiments, our usual process includes discussing with volunteers (who create and curate all the information on Wikipedia) to make decisions on whether and how to proceed with building features. The discussion around this feature is an example of this process, where we built out a prototype of an idea and reached out to the Wikipedia volunteer community for their thoughts.”

The WMF acknowledged the diversity of feedback received from volunteers, emphasizing that such input is crucial for the platform’s collaborative nature. The spokesperson noted, “We welcome such thoughtful feedback — this is what continues to make Wikipedia a truly collaborative platform of human knowledge.”

Future of AI at Wikipedia

While the WMF has decided not to proceed with the AI summary experiment at this time, they have not ruled out the potential for future AI applications. The spokesperson assured that any future initiatives involving generative AI would involve editor participation, stating:

“Bringing generative AI into the Wikipedia reading experience is a serious set of decisions, with important implications, and we intend to treat it as such. We do not have any plans for bringing a summary feature to the wikis without editor involvement.”

Conclusion

The cancellation of the AI summary test reflects the strong commitment of Wikipedia’s editing community to uphold the platform’s standards and integrity. As the Wikimedia Foundation continues to explore ways to enhance user experience, it remains clear that collaboration with editors will be a priority in any future developments.

Update, June 13, 2025, 12:52PM ET: This story has been corrected to note that Wikipedia never actually started its AI summary test. The plan was announced but canceled before it took place. A statement from the Wikimedia Foundation has also been added, and the headline has been updated as well.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/wikipedia-cancels-plan-to-test-ai-summaries-after-editors-skewer-the-idea-200029899.html?src=rss