Wikipedia Traffic Declines as AI Summaries Disrupt Traditional Visits

Wikipedia has reported an 8% year-over-year drop in human traffic, attributing the decline to the rise of AI-generated summaries that answer user queries directly. Nearly 60% of Google searches now end with on-page responses powered by Wikipedia's content, reducing the need for users to visit the site itself.

Publishers describe the trend as existential, accusing tech platforms of leveraging their work without compensation. The Wikimedia Foundation identified sophisticated bots—primarily from Brazil—masquerading as human visitors, which initially obscured the true extent of the traffic decline. After refining its detection systems, the foundation confirmed a sustained reduction in direct visits.

The shift underscores a broader transformation in how information is consumed, with AI intermediaries increasingly replacing traditional sources. Wikipedia's experience mirrors challenges faced by publishers worldwide as generative AI reshapes content discovery.