Wikipedia pauses AI summaries after editors call them threat to credibility

Wikipedia has paused its AI-generated summary trial after just two days following harsh criticism from the platform’s volunteer editors. The Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit that runs Wikipedia, launched the feature on June 2 for 10% of mobile users, but editor backlash over accuracy and credibility concerns forced an immediate halt to what was planned as a two-week experiment.

What you should know: The AI summaries appeared at the top of Wikipedia articles with yellow “unverified” labels, generated by Cohere Labs’ open-weight Aya model.

• Users had to tap to expand and read the summaries, which were only visible to those with the Wikipedia browser extension who opted into the trial.
• The feature was designed to provide “simple summaries” for mobile users, but editors viewed it as a threat to Wikipedia’s reputation for reliability.

What editors are saying: Wikipedia’s volunteer community delivered scathing feedback about the potential damage to the platform’s credibility.

• “This would do immediate and irreversible harm to our readers and to our reputation as a decently trustworthy and serious source,” said one editor, adding “Let’s not insult our readers’ intelligence and join the stampede to roll out flashy AI summaries.”
• Another editor criticized the lack of editorial oversight: “With Simple Article Summaries, you propose giving one singular editor with known reliability, and NPOV issues a platform at the very top of any given article whilst giving zero editorial control to others.”
• Other reactions included “Yuck,” “Absolutely not,” and “Very bad idea.”

The bigger picture: Wikipedia’s experience reflects broader industry struggles with AI-generated content accuracy across major platforms.

• Apple was forced to pause its AI notification summaries in January after spreading fake news, while Bloomberg corrected over three dozen AI summaries this year due to inaccuracy issues.
• The incident highlights the tension between making content more accessible and maintaining editorial standards that Wikipedia has built over decades.

What’s next: Despite pausing the current trial, Wikipedia hasn’t abandoned AI summaries entirely.

• The platform will continue testing features to make content accessible for different reading levels, but human editors will remain central to determining what information appears on Wikipedia.
• A Wikimedia Foundation spokesperson confirmed that editorial oversight will continue to be pivotal in future AI integration efforts.