The Digital Press

Wikipedia’s human traffic has dropped about 8% recently as more users turn to AI-powered search engines and social media for quick answers instead of visiting the site directly.

Why it matters: Declining visits threaten Wikipedia’s volunteer editor community and reduce donations that fund the nonprofit.

The big picture: Search engines increasingly present AI-generated answers using Wikipedia content without linking back, changing how people access information.

The stakes: Reduced traffic may weaken Wikipedia’s role as a reliable and freely accessible knowledge source, impacting content quality.

Commenters say: Users worry AI-driven summaries reduce transparency and accuracy while advocating for fair compensation to original content creators.