English Wikipedia has banned the use of generative AI when writing or rewriting articles, citing concerns that AI-generated content 'often violates several of Wikipedia's core content policies.' The platform announced this policy after determining that AI tools frequently produce inaccurate or misleading information that doesn't align with Wikipedia's standards for verifiable sources.

There are a couple of minor exceptions to the ban. Editors can use large language models (LLMs) to refine their own writing, but only if the copy is checked for accuracy. The policy states that LLMs 'can go beyond what you ask of them and change the meaning of the text such that it is not supported by the sources cited.' Editors can also use LLMs to assist with language translation, provided they're fluent enough in both languages to catch errors.

Wikipedia administrator Chaotic Enby called the policy a 'pushback against enshittification and the forceful push of AI by so many companies in these last few years.' The administrator hopes this decision will 'spark a broader change' and empower other platforms to decide whether AI should be welcome in their communities. However, Wikipedia is not a monolith - each site has its own independent rules, and some may decide to embrace LLMs while others may go even further.