- Wikimedia reports an 8% drop in site traffic due to AI-driven search
- AI tools like ChatGPT now surpass Wikipedia in user engagement
- Calls grow for ethical regulation to protect open knowledge platforms
The Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, has reported a sharp fall in traffic to its site, blaming the surge of artificial intelligence chatbots and AI-generated summaries.
Marshall Miller, Wikimedia’s Chief Product Officer, said AI tools that deliver instant answers are changing how people find information. Search engines and assistants increasingly draw on Wikipedia’s content to generate summaries, leaving fewer users clicking through to the site itself.
An upgraded bot detection system found an 8% drop in traffic over the past year, largely due to a fall in human visits. Miller warned that if the decline continues, Wikipedia’s role as the world’s largest verified and transparent knowledge base could be at risk. Fewer visits could mean fewer volunteer editors, less funding and a decline in article quality.
At the same time, the Foundation has seen a 50% rise in bandwidth use since January 2024, mostly from AI
systems scraping its data to train large language models. This automated traffic strains Wikimedia’s servers and inflates costs, a trend Miller said is unsustainable without clearer rules on data use.
Rebecca MacKinnon, Wikimedia’s Vice President of Global Advocacy, said the numbers point to a wider shift in behaviour. In March 2025, Wikipedia recorded 500 million fewer visits than AI platforms such as ChatGPT, reflecting a 22.7% drop in monthly visits over three years. ChatGPT’s traffic overtook Wikipedia’s in early 2025, with the AI platform now reaching around 400 million weekly users.
Wikipedia’s own attempt to integrate AI-generated summaries was halted after pushback from its volunteer community, which argued that such features would undermine editorial transparency. Foundation officials have since urged AI developers and search companies to direct users to original sources to preserve verifiability.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.zoomit.ir/internet-network/450178-ai-hurting-wikipedia-traffic/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/04/ai-bots-strain-wikimedia-as-bandwidth-surges-50/ – Wikimedia Foundation reports a 50% increase in bandwidth usage since January 2024 due to AI bots scraping terabytes of data for training large language models. This surge has strained servers and increased operational costs. The Foundation highlights the need for ethical AI practices and proper attribution to sustain volunteer-driven platforms. ([arstechnica.com](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/04/ai-bots-strain-wikimedia-as-bandwidth-surges-50/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.andinalinkvirtualexpo.com/uncategorized/wikipedia-under-siege-artificial-intelligence-threatens-its-sustainability/ – Rebecca MacKinnon, Vice President of Global Advocacy at the Wikimedia Foundation, expresses concern over AI’s impact on Wikipedia’s infrastructure. The article discusses a decline in human visits, with Wikipedia.org receiving 500 million fewer visits than ChatGPT.com in March 2025, and a 22.7% drop in monthly visits over three years. The rise of AI platforms like ChatGPT is altering information-seeking habits, leading users to access information through AI interfaces rather than directly visiting websites like Wikipedia. ([andinalinkvirtualexpo.com](https://www.andinalinkvirtualexpo.com/uncategorized/wikipedia-under-siege-artificial-intelligence-threatens-its-sustainability/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.roic.ai/news/chatgpt-surpasses-wikipedia-in-monthly-visits-signaling-shift-in-information-consumption-05-15-2025 – ChatGPT has surpassed Wikipedia in monthly visits as of March 2025, indicating a shift in information consumption patterns. The article notes that ChatGPT’s user base has grown exponentially, reaching 400 million weekly users, while Wikipedia has seen a decline in unique visitors and total daily visits. This trend reflects fundamental changes in how people seek information, with AI platforms increasingly serving as primary sources. ([roic.ai](https://www.roic.ai/news/chatgpt-surpasses-wikipedia-in-monthly-visits-signaling-shift-in-information-consumption-05-15-2025?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/wikipedia-loses-8-of-human-traffic-as-generative-ai-and-social-platforms-change-user-habits-11760848337091.html – Wikipedia reports an 8% decline in human pageviews compared to the previous year, attributing the decrease to generative AI, search engines, and social media platforms providing direct answers without directing users to the site. The Wikimedia Foundation highlights evolving internet trends and sophisticated bot traffic reshaping how people access information globally. ([livemint.com](https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/wikipedia-loses-8-of-human-traffic-as-generative-ai-and-social-platforms-change-user-habits-11760848337091.html?utm_source=openai))
- https://economy.ac/news/2025/06/20250655034 – The article discusses the impact of AI on traditional knowledge platforms like Wikipedia, noting a sharp decline in traffic as users increasingly turn to AI chatbots for instant answers. It highlights the challenges faced by community-based knowledge models and the shift from exploration and discussion to instant answers and passive acceptance. ([economy.ac](https://economy.ac/news/2025/06/20250655034?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.webpronews.com/wikipedia-traffic-drops-8-as-ai-chatbots-repackage-content-without-credit/ – Wikipedia faces an 8% drop in human traffic from March to August 2025, as AI tools like chatbots repackage its content without attribution or redirects, boosting bot requests and straining resources. This threatens its volunteer-driven model and sustainability, prompting calls for ethical AI frameworks and regulatory interventions to ensure proper citations and mutual benefits. ([webpronews.com](https://www.webpronews.com/wikipedia-traffic-drops-8-as-ai-chatbots-repackage-content-without-credit/?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with the article dated October 18, 2025. Similar reports have emerged since April 2025, indicating a fresh development. However, the topic has been covered by multiple reputable sources, suggesting some repetition. ([arstechnica.com](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/04/ai-bots-strain-wikimedia-as-bandwidth-surges-50/?utm_source=openai)) The article is based on a press release from the Wikimedia Foundation, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No significant discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The inclusion of updated data justifies a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from Marshall Miller, Wikimedia’s Chief Product Officer, and Rebecca MacKinnon, Vice President of Global Advocacy, are used. These quotes appear to be original and have not been identified in earlier material. No identical quotes were found in previous reports, indicating potential originality.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from Zoomit, a reputable Iranian technology news outlet. While it is a single-source report, the information aligns with reports from other reputable organisations, such as Ars Technica and The Register. ([arstechnica.com](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/04/ai-bots-strain-wikimedia-as-bandwidth-surges-50/?utm_source=openai)) However, the reliance on a single source introduces some uncertainty.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about Wikipedia’s traffic decline due to AI chatbots and search engines are plausible and supported by reports from other reputable organisations. ([arstechnica.com](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/04/ai-bots-strain-wikimedia-as-bandwidth-surges-50/?utm_source=openai)) The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as exact dates and figures, which reduces the score. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and resembles typical corporate language.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents recent and plausible information about Wikipedia’s traffic decline due to AI chatbots and search engines. While it is based on a press release and relies on a single source, the information aligns with reports from other reputable organisations. The quotes appear original, and the language and tone are appropriate. However, the lack of specific factual anchors and reliance on a single source introduce some uncertainty.
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