Wikipedia has updated its guidelines to prohibit editors from using artificial intelligence to write or rewrite article content. The English-language version of the site introduced the change after months of editors struggling with a rise in AI-generated articles.
The new policy stems from a finding that text produced by large language models (LLMs) frequently breaks several of Wikipedia’s core content rules. These include standards around accuracy, neutrality, and verifiability.
However, the ban is not absolute. Editors may still use AI tools in two specific cases:
- To suggest minor copyedits to their own writing, as long as the AI does not add new content
- To help translate articles from another language’s Wikipedia into English, provided the editor knows the source language well enough to verify the result
The policy also addresses a fairness concern. Some human editors naturally write in a style that resembles AI output. Wikipedia warns that stylistic similarities alone are not enough grounds to sanction an editor. Reviewers are instead instructed to assess whether the content follows Wikipedia’s core policies and to look at the editor’s recent editing history.
