Wikipedia's user traffic has decreased by 8% year-over-year. This information comes from a blog by Marshall Miller of the Wikimedia Foundation, who explained that the drop became apparent after the implementation of a new bot detection system. A significant portion of the unusually high traffic in May and June was due to bots created to bypass protections.
Miller noted that the primary factors behind the decline are the rise of generative artificial intelligence and changes in how people search for information. Specifically, search engines increasingly provide answers directly in the form of AI-generated summaries without redirecting users to websites. Additionally, younger internet users are now seeking information in the form of short videos on social media platforms.
A representative of the Wikimedia Foundation emphasized that even under these conditions, the encyclopedia's role does not diminish, as its materials are still used as sources of knowledge, even if people do not visit the site directly. Nonetheless, there are risks: fewer visitors may lead to a reduction in the number of volunteers editing articles and a decrease in financial support from donors.
Wikipedia has already tested its own AI-generated summaries but halted the project after criticism from editors. Currently, the organization is developing a new content attribution system and forming teams to engage new readers. Miller stressed that companies using Wikipedia's materials must facilitate users’ transition to the site itself.
He also called for support for the creation and integrity of informational content, encouraging users to refer to the original source, reminding that the data utilized by AI systems is backed by the work of real people who deserve support.
Interestingly, the Penske Media Corporation, which owns well-known publications like Rolling Stone, Variety, and Billboard, recently filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing it of using the "AI Review" feature that appears during search results. Penske Media believes this feature reduces traffic to its sites and negatively impacts revenues. Google, in turn, later denied that AI-generated summaries decrease search traffic.
